CH. VI. HEILAM INN LOCH ERRIBOLL. 81 



necessary grain must be imported from the low land ; 

 and the low-land farmers, finding a better price and 

 better customers else where, naturally send their pro- 

 duce to the best market. This mountainous country 

 is only fit for sheep, and sheep-farming is by far the 

 best use to put it to. The bays are certainly full 

 offish; but it seems nearly impossible to make good 

 fishermen of hill-men, often as it has been tried. 

 The north-west Highlanders, having found out from 

 their friends the great advantages derived from 

 emigration, are now anxious to take advantage of 

 the Duke's liberal system of sending them out. 



To continue our journey. We were obliged at 

 last to make for a small inn called Heilam, on the 

 shore of Loch Erriboll ; and glad enough were we 

 to get there, for it blew a perfect gale, and the 

 rain was unceasing. Though the outside of the 

 house looked unpromising, we found the interior 

 clean enough, the people respectable, and plenty 

 of fresh herrings and new-laid eggs. So, the 

 storm not abating, we determined to take u$ our 

 quarters there for the night. 



Loch Erriboll is an excellent harbour of refuge 

 during gales from the north and north-east. The 

 anchorage is good and the water deep ; so that no 

 storm comes on from that quarter without some 

 vessels coming in for shelter. I went out to the 



VOL. I. G 



