4jo CANAL BETWEEN INVERNESS 



fouth-weft parts of the kingdom, muft therefore be 

 carried round by the long, the tedious, and the very 

 hazardous navigation of the Pentland Firth ; and 

 all vt-flels paflmg to and from the herring and white 

 fifheries of the Hebrides, muft alfo hazard the fame 

 navigation ; though in winter, the feafon of the large 

 herrings, and mod proper for curing, this paflagc 

 is almoft impracticable. 



The fame inconvenience attends the inhabitants 

 of the Well Highlands, in procuring from the eaft 

 coaft thofc fupplies of grain and meal which their 

 native mountains do not afford in fufficient plenty 

 for half of the inhabitants, and which Ireland fome- 

 times denies them. Of thefc particulars, I was fur- 

 nifhrd with an aflfecling narrative by perfons prin- 

 cipally engaged in this trade, for the fupply of the 

 Hebrides, as well as the main land. 



Before fufficient cargoes of grain can be threfhed 

 out, or grinded into meal, the long nights, and al- 

 moft incefiantftorms of the winter,have commenced. 

 In thisfeafon, the merchant fends his veflel from the 

 latitude of Mull, round Cape Wrath ; from thence, 

 along the coaft of the Pentland Firth, amidft con- 

 tending elements, jarring currents, and rapid tides, 

 where fhe ftrugglts to pafs the ftrait, or to get 

 into fomc creek, where fhe may elude the impend- 

 ing rocks, and all the dangers of a lee-fhore, though 

 from fuch creek, if the wind blows ftrong from the 

 eaftern points, fhe cannot proceed with any degree of 

 fafety. 



After patting the rapid ftrait of 7 miles, between 

 the mainland and the Orkneys, where fpring 

 tides run at the rate of 7 miles an hour, the vef- 

 fcl fees herfelf on the unprotected cold coaft of 

 Caithnefs, Sutherland, Rofs-fhire, or the Murray Firth, 

 where, if fo fortunate as to make the deftined creek 

 or port, fhe loads her cargo; and hath again to en- 

 counter the fame train of difficulties in her return. 

 The trip, outward and homeward, frequently em- 

 ploys 



