158 HARRIS. SOIL AND SURFACE. 



high, and containing indeed some of the highest hills 

 in Scotland. In this respect the character of Harris is 

 entirely different from that of the islands immediately to the 

 south of it. It probably does not any where contain twenty 

 acres of level land in one spot. There is not at least 

 a plain throughout the whole country, mountain following 

 mountain in continual succession, uninterrupted even by 

 that common feature in Scotland, the green glen or 

 alluvial strath. The only land which at all approaches 

 to an even surface, lies on the sandy shores of the western 

 coast. The greater number of these mountains display 

 surfaces of naked rock; the same rock with the same 

 general outline and aspect already described in the islands 

 to the south. It is difficult indeed to form a conception 

 of greater desolation and barrenness than is seen from 

 the summit of any of the high mountains in this country ; 

 entire surfaces of miles in extent appearing to consist 

 of bare rock scarcely checquered by a spot of verdure, 

 or even of that pretence to verdure, a mossy moor. 

 Such is the case more particularly with Roneval, one 

 of the highest mountains. In some places however, 

 chiefly on the western and southern sides, there are 

 declivities of tolerable pasture ; and similar patches 

 are here and there scattered throughout the country 

 wherever the declivity is such as to favour the accumula- 

 tion of earth, and at the same time to repulse the lodg- 

 ment of water and the consequent accumulation of peat. 

 In similar situations, almost exclusively limited to the 

 sea shore, is dispersed the population, in which this 

 country like the greater part of the Highlands abounds, 

 the small patches which admit of the plan of cultivatipn 

 followed in most parts of the Highland maritime districts, 

 being occupied by distinct families or held in joint 

 tenantry, according to their several capacities. A few 

 large pasture farms have been lately allotted, but the 

 greater part of the land is held according to the plan till 



