DEER CROSSING THE SEA. 315 



The pasture in many of the valleys which intersect the 

 island is very rich ; and though there is but little brush- 

 wood, yet, from the excellence of the soil, great beds of fern 

 are to be met with, growing to the height of six feet, in 

 which the deer take refuge from the flies and the heat of 

 the sun. 



The district of Tarbert, beginning at the north of the loch 

 of that name, as far as the gulf of Corrivrechan, is the part 

 of the island most suitable to deer ; the Paps are the next 

 in estimation. 



If Tarbert were cleared of sheep, and a few forest deer 

 turned out for a cross, it would probably prove one of the 

 finest forests in Scotland, since the pasture is excellent, the 

 ground favourable, and the winters are mild. 



When the great-grandfather of the present chief of Islay 

 sold the island of Jura, he reserved certain forest rights, as 

 well as others relating to the fisheries, and stipulated for a 

 payment of six fat harts annually, and also for ten thousand 

 oysters, as feu-duty for the holding. The chief of Islay has 

 also a right of shooting over the island of Jura, and of 

 taking with him such assistance as he may require. Deer, 

 however, have been known to save him this short voyage, 

 and to cross of their own accord to Islay, a distance of 

 about a mile ; and, in particular, six hinds and one hart did 

 so a few years ago, and returned again to Jura. This was 

 probably in the rutting season, and thus the hart seems to 

 have taken a pretty effectual mode of securing to himself 

 peaceable possession of his little seraglio. 



The stags in this forest grow to a large size, and have 

 been repeatedly killed of eighteen stones weight without 

 the intestines. The present chief of Islay killed a hart of 

 seventeen stones and a half Tron* weight, and in full 

 season, whose horns were only sixteen inches from the 

 points to the crown of the head. 



*, Tron weight is nearly the same as Dutch, viz., seventeen ounces and a 

 half to the pound, and sixteen pounds to the stone ; accurately speaking, 

 perhaps, it may be a trifle more, but it is little in use. 



