616 SHORT TOUR OF SCOTLAND. 



injured, and the northern climates experienced a 

 fcarcitv, amounting to a fan .inc. The k.mty crops 

 in rl; , of Scotland we ;i in October, 



when a fall of (now, attend* J \\irh troft, prev< 



arriving at ir 



labour, the fc iwwcrelofl. P'-MHH-S, 



which in b.ul fuiibns had provided a iuhllitui- 



n, were this year froft-bitten, and rendered en- 

 tirely ill Hius the earth withheld iis bounty 

 for the fupport of man and be-all. During this dif- 

 trefs at home, no relief could be obtained from abroad. 

 Irehi; Hebl a and the \v 

 fliores of Scotland, (hut its ports againfl the expor- 

 tation of thofe of the Clyde were unable to 

 re ; while on tlv :i fide of the 

 dom, Che hazards of enemies cut off the necei- 

 from Gerrrany, the Baltic, and in a 

 gn ;id. 



Thus depr.ved of every refourcc, by the double 

 calamity of war and fcarcity, many hundred perfons 

 d and died through the want of fubfiftence. 

 The hufbard and tlv j-arent, unable to bel'.old thefe 

 fcenes of dii g tu relieve 



them, fet out, amidft froft and inow, upon tlie long 

 and almoft i: c journey to Invernels, where 



they expected to purchale a little grain, with the 

 produce of their deaths or furniture, which they had 

 previously fold, in the diflrids where they refided. 

 Several of thofe who had engaged in this generous 

 enterprize, fell a facrifice to hunger and cold, in, 

 their way to the market. They were found dead on 

 the roatl , in caverns, and amongft thickets, where 

 they had taken fhelter from the in- lemencies of the 

 weather, while the frrall, emaciated horfes, the com- 

 panions of their diftrefs, could fcarcely ftand or 



Ik. 



Such was the dreadful fituation of the main land, 

 and the iflands, during the winter and fpring ; and 

 though exprtfies wen hcd to the Lowlands, by 



the 



