i2 4 A VIEW OF 



devoted fanner when abroad. He leaves his family 

 at the commencement of the winter fifnery in Octo- 

 ber, accompanied by his fons, brothers, and fre- 

 quently an aged parent, and embarks on board 

 a fmall open boat, in queft of the herrings, 

 with no other provifions than oatmeal, potatoes, 

 and frefh water 3 no other bedding than heath, 

 twigs or ftraw ; the covering, if any, an old fail.* 

 Thus provided, he fearches from bay to bay, 

 through turbulent feas, frequently for feveral weeks 

 together, before the ihoals of herrings are difco- 

 vered. The glad tidings ferve to vary, but not to 

 diminifh, his fatigues. 'Unremitting nightly la- 

 bour (the time when the herrings are taken), pinch- 

 ing cold winds, heavy feas, uninhabited fhores 

 covered with fnow or deluged with rains, contri- 

 bute towards filling up the meafure of his diflrefTes; 

 while, to men of fuch exquifite feelings as the 

 Highlanders generally pofTefs, the fcene which 

 awaits him at home does it moft effectually. 



Having realized a little money amongft country 

 purchafers, he returns with the remainder of his, 

 capture, through a long navigation, frequently 

 amidtl uncealing hurricanes, not to a comfortable 

 home and a chearful family, but to a hut compofed 

 of turf, without windows, doors, or chimney, en- 

 vironed with fnow, and almoft hid from the eye by 

 its great depth. Upon entering this folitary man- 

 fion, he generally finds a part of his family, lying 

 upon heath or ftraw, languifhing through want, or 

 epidemical difeafe ; while the few furviving cows, 

 which potfefs the other end of the cottage, inftead 

 of furnifhing further fupplies of milk and blood, 



* The Highland drefs, lately refmned, is extremely ufeful ta 

 thefe people when on board, as well as in the field. The plaid 

 contains lundry yards of woriled fluff, which the Highlander 

 wraps feveral times round his body, and lies down to fleep amkm 

 all inclemencies of weather $ his only comfort a little whifky, ancj 

 a pinch of fiiuff, 



demand 



