594 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



thcire Loughes w ch the inhabitants inclosed w th boates, and killd more then 

 one hundred of them w th their swords and theire bowes and arrowes, for 

 want of better engines, and made meat of them all, and for want of salt to 

 save it they tooke the sea Oare (ware) and burned it and then powderd it 

 with the ashes thereof, w ch afterwards beinge dryed in the smoake they eate 

 it like Bacon. 



They have alsoe a yearely fishinge vpon a small He called Causmoun 

 where they kill great store of Scales w ch fishinge may rather bee called an 

 huntinge then a fishinge, for the inhabitants repaire thither once in the yeare 

 manie of them togeather well arm'd both for offence and defence where they 

 find theis fish vpon the Rocks, the weapons wherewith they kill them, are 

 great batts and swords, and to defend themselves ag 1 the teeth of theis fish 

 (whose nature is not to lett goe theire hold till they feele the bones bruise 

 betweene theare teeth) they lyne theire Trooses w th Charcoales, soe that when 

 those fish chance to bite anie of them, when they feele the coals crash within 

 their teeth they give over theire hold and are the sooner overcome, this fish 

 alsoe they make meate of as they doe by theire Whales. The great abundance 

 both of ravenous fishes and fowles w ch that Coast doth affoord is an infallable 

 argumt of that abundance of other fish whereupon they prey. 



In this Hand the ayre is soe contrary to venemous creatures, that there 

 is neither frogge, toade, snake or anie other venemous creature in the whole 

 Island, except one place w ch is a great deepe Cave in the cleft of a rocke neare 

 the sea side, where there are soe manie serpents and of that monstrous bignes 

 as the inhabitants did affirme vnto mee that the very ayre of that place 

 was soe corrupted w th them that a man is not able to endure the smell 

 therereof. 



There are manie Eagles and Hawkes in the He w ch breed in the clefts o. 

 rocks, for this place is soe destitute of wood that there is not one tree growinge 

 in the whole Island. 



And thus haveinge made a breife survey of the whole Island, I have taken 

 a more perticuler viewe of that place therein w ch is most convenient for 

 the seatinge of a Burrough towne w ch I hould to bee in the Lough of 

 Sternway. 



First of al for the comodity of shippinge, this Lough hath a very faire 

 cominge in to it cleare of all dangers, havinge within it safe rideinge for shipps 

 with all windes w th places most convenient from whence both Roade an 

 harboure may bee comaunded for the securinge both of towne and shippinge 

 from the danger of an Enimy as it doth more plainely appeare by a draught 

 w ch I have made thereof. 



As for y e scituation of y e towne, first for the benefitt of a good ayre w ch 

 is cheifely to bee considered. It is vpon a drye peece of levell ground w ch doth 

 enioy the benefitt of the sonne from y e morninge vntill the eveninge, w ch is not 

 easily found againe in this lie because of the hills and boggs. Then for those 

 two Elem 18 of fire and water they are there most conveniently at hand. 

 Moreover this place lyeth near the midst of the Countrey for the more con- 

 veniency of all the inhabitants w ch must resort thereunto. It beinge alsoe the 

 place w ch hath bene alwayes most frequented both of the inhabitants and 

 strangers, where there are already some fewe buildings w th a pious worke 

 of the Earle of Seafort, who doth build a church there w ch is a good 

 foundacon for the rest of the worke. 



There are alsoe divers places about the Island very necessary for y e 

 buildinge of Magazines and Stoarhouses for the layinge vpp of salt, packinge 

 of fish, and all other necessaryes belonginge vnto the fishings w ch will alwayes 

 shift from place to place, accordinge vnto the seuall seasons of the yeare, 

 w ch places w th theire proprietyes because they cannott bee soe well vnderstood 

 and conceived of by words I have made a platt of the Island whereby I hope 

 to give your hono ra the better satisfaccon both of what I have heere related, 

 and many other things concerninge the same. 



Thus haveinge vsed my best endeavo rs to dischardge my duety herein 

 accordinge to the Comission and direccons receaved from Capt. John Mason, 



