13 J A Surveij and Report •o/' the Cotists 



Kvlescow, another by the kiik of Lairg to the head of Loch* 

 Loxt'ord, and a third tVom the kirk of Lairg bv the west 

 of Lochnaver to Tongue. Another road again would con- 

 nect together the wesiern and eastern extremities of this the 

 northern coast of Scotland, proceeding from Loch Eriboll 

 (at which place there is one of tiic. iinest harbours in the 

 kingdom) bv Tongue, Farr, and Thurso, to Honna on the 

 east. From this point, where there is a ferry to Orkney, 

 the road would return to Wick, and from thence along the 

 fast coasts of Sutherland and Caithness, crossing the river 

 Fleet by a bridge, to avoid the little Ferry, till it terminated 

 at Invcrshin. Such lines as the above would open the 

 whole of these countries to all the trading capital of Inver- 

 ness and the east coast of Scotland, as well as by the wav 

 of Fort William to that of the Clyde ; and it is well known 

 that all the wa)- from the vicinity of Kylescow round to 

 Wick, the rishing grounds are abundant and excellent. 



As to the middle division, the committee would humbly 

 suggest the utility of certain lines of intersection from east 

 to^vest. One of these ought to be from the great military 

 road between Fort William and Inverness in a western di- 

 rection, such as may best afibrd an easy intercourse between 

 both these places and the islands of Skye, Harries, and North 

 Uist, as well as Loch Hourn, Loch Duieh, and the other 

 valuable fishing lochs in that vicinity. A second will lead 

 from Contin (which has already a good road to Dingwall) 

 by the south pide of Loch Garve and the head of Loch 

 liickart to Achnashine, and from thence in one branch to 

 Loch Carron and in another to Pollew. From one or other 

 tif these branches a road of important benefit might be 

 drawn to Loch Torridon, a third road will extend from the 

 port of Ullapool in L*)ch Broom to Invcrshin at the head 

 of the Frith of Dornock. 



When the lines of road now mentioned are completed, 

 -the course of post will become rapid and regular. From. 

 ,the neighbourhood of Skye to Greenock the mail would be 

 conveyed in three days, while from Invcrshin to Edinburgh 

 jby Aberdeen, or to Greenock by Inverness and Fort Wil- 

 liam, it woald be conveyed at furthest in four, and thus 

 the most remote points of the Highlands would be brought 

 within five days course of post, at the utmost, of tldinbuigh 

 and the Frith of Clyde. It may suffice for contrasting such 

 ,a situation of the Highlands witl\ that in which they are 

 -now placed, in respect to communication of intelligence, to 

 relate what happened this very year. When, after the re- 

 turn of the Clyde vessels from a vain search for herrings 



