208 NORTH RONA. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



are clothed it is scarcely necessary to say ; covered they 

 are not, nor did there appear to be a blanket in the 

 house ; the only substitute for a bed being an excavation 

 in the wall, strewed, as it seemed, with ashes and straw. 

 Besides the produce of the farm they are supplied with 

 animal food, in the sea fowl and in the small coal fish 

 (cuddies) which are taken with the rod ; and thus, with 

 all their disadvantages, are sure of abundant food, that 

 with which their countrymen in the situation of small 

 tenants are not always provided. At such a price is 

 here valued the labour of three individuals, for which 

 the farm finds full employment. 



The soil is of a good quality, and produces barley 

 oats and potatoes. The average surplus of corn remaining 

 beyond the consumption of the family was stated at 

 eight bolls of barley ; and this, united to the produce 

 of the sheep, and an annual supply of eight stone of 

 feathers, is, to the tenant, the value of North Rona. 

 To him, who is one of the tacksmen of Lewis, the 

 land is let for two pounds a year. 



There is no other water in the island than that which 

 is collected in pools from the rain, but there is no 

 chance of any deficiency in this article. As there is 

 no peat, turf is used for fuel and the oil of the cuddy 

 for light ; but, with characteristic improvidence, there 

 are no means of lighting the fire should it ever be ex- 

 tinguished. Well may the vestals of this cottage watch 

 the smoky embers and trim the dying lamp. 



Such is the violence of the wind in this region that 

 not even the solid mass of a Highland hut can resist 

 it. The house is therefore excavated in the earth, the 

 wall required for the support of the roof scarcely rising 

 two feet above the surface. The roof itself is but little 

 raised above the level, and is covered with a great 

 weight of turf, above which is the thatch; the whole 

 being surrounded with turf stacks to ward off the gales. 

 The entrance to this subterranean retreat U through a 



