THE HIGHLANDS. 121 



admirably qualified for the fifheries, . and all the 

 branches belonging thereto. 



<he DiftrtJJ'es of the Highlands. 



Such being the natural ftate of the Highlands, 

 the only parts capable of agriculture are the vallies 

 or glens around the bafes of the mountains; and 

 thele vallies having the fun for a few hours only, 

 vegetation advances flowly, and the harvefts are 

 always late. The climate is equally difcouraging 

 to the purpofes of hufbandry. The fpring is bleak 

 and piercing ; the fummer is cold and fhort ; the 

 autumn, from the beginning of Auguft, deluged 

 with rains ; the winter long and tempeftuous. Dur- 

 ing the latter feafon, the people are cut off from ail 

 communication with the Low Countries, by deep 

 beds of fnow, impaffible torrents, pathlefs moun- 

 tains and morafles on the one fide \ by long and 

 impracticable navigations on the otrfer. 



To thefe accumulated difcourngements of nature, 

 are added the oppreffions and ill- judged policy of 

 many proprietors of thofe fterile regions, far beyond 

 their natural value, were they even in hands more 

 capable to improve them. Where both foil and 

 climate confpire againfl the railing of grain in any 

 confiderable quantity, and where there are no mar- 

 kets, poffibly within the diftance of fifty miles, for die 

 fale of corn and the leffer articles of hufbandry, the 

 farmer turns his attention chiefly to the grazing of 

 a few cattle and Iheep, as the means whereby he ex- 

 pects to pay his rent, and fup'port his family. If, 

 therefore, his farm hath been raifc-d at the rate of 300 

 per cent, while the price of cattle hath Icarcel 

 vanced 100, this method of improving eftates, as the 

 proprietors term it, furnifhes a high- founding 

 roll, extremely pleafing to human vanity, but which, 

 being founded upon opprefTion, injufticc, and folly, 

 hath hitherto proved fallacious and humiliating 

 fill thofe who have perfevered" in the cruel expe- 

 riment. 



Upon 



