THE FIFE ADVENTURERS. 199 



Contract Articles submitted for the consideration of the 

 partners in the enterprise. The points so submitted relate 

 to their minister, their kirk, their schoolmaster and their 

 school ; to the bounds of the town, its fortifications, its 

 first houses, and the burgh roads ; to the division of the 

 lands, people, and goods ; to the salmon fishings, mines, 

 minerals, whales, teinds, and the duty on fish ; to the social 

 duties of the colony ; to compensation for those colonists 

 who suffer most severely from attack ; to shipping matters ; 

 to the institution of a common fund ; to the debarring of 

 marriage or friendship with the natives unless by general 

 consent ; to the protection of the Syndicate against an 

 increase of partners without the consent of the contractors; 

 and to the prevention of any individual member attempting 

 to exercise undue authority to the prejudice of the common 

 good.* 



The framework of the Society is seen from the fore- 

 going synopsis. The provisions are in the main excel- 

 lent enough, so far as the internal economy of the colony 

 is concerned. But it is evident that the colonists were 

 to form a separate and superior caste in the island. The 

 natives were to be treated as pariahs. No intercourse 

 between the two races was to be permissible except in 

 the relations of masters and serfs. The King was for 

 extermination ; the colonists preferred segregation ; no one 

 suggested amalgamation. 



Having secured temporary immunity from attack, the 

 colonists commenced to carry out their programme. They 

 planned their town and proceeded to build houses, the 

 material being stone, timber, and "saill" (turf). Finally, 

 they completed what Sir Robert Gordon calls a " prettie 

 toun," which they fortified. There is no reason for doubt 

 that the modern town of Stornoway covers the site of this 

 village. The remains of some ramparts and fortifications 

 existed at the point of Holm, a short distance from Stor- 

 noway, although they are no longer discoverable ; and it 



* fieg.ofP.C., Vol. XIV., Appen. to Intro. 



