342 S O R T L A N D. 



i. Potatoes. 2. Barley. 3. Oats. 4. Flax on 

 jfpots. 



The fea-weed the only manure, and they de- 

 pend intirely on it, and apt to do that too much 

 neglecting other parts of management. The 

 circumftances of the people are not at all im- 

 proved in 20 years, they are not better fed or 

 cloathed, or-in any refped better off than for- 

 merly. Nor are they at all induftrious, even of 

 fea-weed they do not make one half the advant- 

 age they could, they might get an hundred 

 loads where they get one. They increafe in 

 number very greatly, fo as to be evidently 

 crowded ; this has been the cafe particularly 

 fince inoculation was introduced, which was 

 about ten years ago. They live upon potatoes 

 and milk, and for 3 months in the year, on oat- 

 meal. Mr. Browne is convinced from every ob- 

 fervation, that the potatoes arc a very whole- 

 fome and nourishing food. The linen manu- 

 facture confifts only in fpinning, which is uni- 

 verfal in ail the cabbins, and it is fomuch, that 

 they are affifted by it, in paying their rents. 

 They earn 3d. a day by fpinning : one lb. of 

 flax for 3 hank yarn a woman is 4 days ipin- 

 ning. 



Within a mile of Sortland is a vafl bog, which 

 ftretches 10 miles in length, and 2 or 3 over. 

 It is a black one, 16 fpit deep. There are hil- 

 locks in it of lime-ftone gravel, but lime-ftone 

 is not to be found near it in general, though not 

 Searched for with any attention, ft is, however, 

 fo cheap here that any improvements might be 

 worked 5 Mr. Browne can burn it at 3d. a bar- 

 rel 



