106 TOUR IN THE WESTERN ISLES. 



people added tlie leading trait of furtivity of dispo- 

 sition. ' We were in a constant jeopardy of pocket, 

 so nimble-fingered are the savages. Bottles, sticks, 

 &c. &c., all were seized ; but so simple-minded were 

 the filchers that we as speedily recovered the said 

 chattels.' My dear boat -cloak fell among others. 

 I went in suddenly upon the suspected house, and 

 drawing my sword, an instantaneous tremor pervaded 

 the house, and I was told one of the servants had got 

 it. The servants being called, and another flourish 

 of the sword given, the simple men of St Kilda lifted 

 up a board, and tremblingly gave me back the dear 

 stray. These apparently trifling traits in the char- 

 acter of these poor people will, I trust, be excused, 

 as the best mode which my hurry and confusion can 

 leave me of conveying to you an idea of the manners 

 of a tribe which exemplifies most remarkably the old 

 proverb, c One half the world don't know how the 

 other lives.' We made several remarks on the state 

 of the island, and the mode of management to which 

 it is subject. Were its extent, fertility, and popula- 

 tion of sufficient consequence, no better method of 

 improvement could be fallen upon than to send a 

 schoolmaster, and then to abolish the present iniquit- 

 ous method of collecting its produce. The tacksman 

 (whom the people think a steward) resides twice a- 

 year there, to plunder under the name of Madeod's 

 factor. He pays 20 sterling only to Macleod, and 

 makes above twice as much himself. For this pur- 

 pose all the milk of cows is brought into his dairy 



