282 a voyage to the Hebrides. April 25. 



leagues to the westward and belongs to Herries. He 

 has fliewn the people the right manner of catching 

 cod, ling, and turbot, with which those seas abound. 

 He has provided the fittest tackle for catching the car- 

 ban, or sun or sail-fifli, and has caught many of them. 

 He has commifsioned boats for his filliers, from Nor- 

 way, and provided them in trawl-nets and herring- 

 nets. He has built a large boat-house, for making 

 and preserving his boats. This is covered with heath, 

 which is both warm and durable. ft is laid very 

 thick, with the roots inwards ; no turf is used but 

 for the ridge ; where straw is scarce, and heath uni- 

 versal, this is an important lefson to the country. 

 No free-stone near; — the buildings are all of granite, 

 worked with hammers into what form the mason 

 chooses. His lime-stone is fetched twelve or fourteen 

 leagues from Lochbuy in the isle of Sky ; shells for 

 making lime from the isle of Bara, thirty leagues off. 

 The nearest custom-houses to Portmore are Storna- 

 way, in the isle of Lewis ; isle Marten, inLochbroom j 

 Fort William, and Oban, all at a great distance. 

 There are certain winds, that during their continu- 

 ation prevent his sending to any of them. His vef- 

 sels with salt and coal are on this account often un- 

 seasonably detained, and the expence of those articles 

 greatly enhanced thereby. In Ihort greater efforts, un- 

 der more discouraging circumstances, have seldom 

 been made. Captain Macleod, though a modest man, 

 seems to pofsefs an enthusiastic love for his native 

 island, and perseverance enough to enable him to o- 

 vercome the difficulties which obstruct the accom- 

 plifhment of his noble object, of introducing agricul- 



