230 ISLA. ANTIQUITIES. 



houses, and more perfect modes of fencing and draining', 

 have produced their usual effects, and proved that, under 

 similar management, the agricultural reform of these islands 

 in general may ultimately be effected. The natural con- 

 sequences have followed ; an improvement in the state of 

 the population, together with an increase in the value of 

 the land, of which Scotland scarcely any where presents 

 more striking examples. 



Isla produces little for the amusement of the botanist 

 beyond those plants which are common to all the islands, 

 and which have rarely been enumerated in this work, since 

 they are of almost universal occurrence along the western 

 coasts, in boggy and rocky soils or in moderately alpine 

 elevations. Two plants however, not very common any 

 where, grow here in profusion; the Epilobium angusti- 

 folium and Ribes rubrum. A small lake near Kilmenny 

 is remarkable, as well for the profusion of this latter plant 

 which it displays, as for the remains of some of those 

 ancient buildings of which Isla presents so many ex- 

 amples. 



THE extent of this island, and the great proportion 

 which its open and fertile tracts bear to the barren and 

 mountainous regions, when compared with the other 

 islands of this sea that resemble it in magnitude, seem 



O * 



to have rendered it at all times more populous than any 

 of the rest; if we except lona and those already described 

 which possess a fertile basaltic soil, namely Muck, Egg, 

 and Canna. Hence it appears to have been more con- 

 spicuous in the history of ancient times ; having been 

 the scene of perpetual warfare; of invasion, conquest, 

 and piracy. That importance is marked by its having 

 been the residence of one of the great kings of the isles, 

 Macdonald ; respecting whom, all the notice admissible 

 in a cursory sketch of this nature, has already been given in 

 the account of Lewis. A record of the extent of its early 

 population, when compared with that of the other islands, 

 may be found in the much greater number of local 



