THE ISLAND OF COLONSAY 37 



water in the little fishing-boat harbour at Scalasaig, 

 with which it would almost always be possible to 

 maintain a connection either with Oban to the north, 

 the " Small Isles " of Jura, or some point in Islay 

 where regular steamers call daily. Such a boat would 

 always be useful also for fishing and trawling, and for 

 getting about to different points on the island without 

 being dependent on wind and tide. A large yacht 

 drawing much water would be a comparatively use- 

 less toy. I was twice tenant of Killoran House and 

 the shootings, and also visited the island on several 

 other occasions, usually at Easter, but once for a 

 much longer period commencing in September. On 

 these occasions we stayed at the little inn at Scala- 

 saig whose friendly proprietors, then the Misses 

 M'Neill, did everything possible for our comfort, and 

 provided excellent homely fare and clean and com- 

 fortable quarters. Our experience in 1900 was not 

 altogether a pleasant one, as we came for rest and 

 change, bringing with us my son who had been 

 wounded at Lindley in the South African war, and in- 

 valided home. Shortly after our arrival he developed 

 enteric fever, which he had caught on the troopship on 

 his way home. This was not an agreeable experience 

 either for ourselves or for . the inhabitants, who had 

 once before suffered from a serious outbreak of typhoid 

 causing many deaths, and were naturally anxious that 

 the disorder should not again be introduced. Happily 

 on this occasion there was no second case of fever, but 

 my son's attack proved a severe one with numerous 

 relapses, and the long detention and the distance 

 from consulting physicians was certainly trying. I 

 managed to amuse myself with golf and with a pea 



