APPENDICES. 60 1 



have been eat up with Rats and Lice. In this miserable situation I was 

 obliged to hire an old leakey Boat to Transport myself and Party to the 

 Ship in Fins Bay and thanks to Providence we got all safe there, which was 

 a seasonable Relief to the poor Fellows. We continued Wind Bound Four 

 Days longer before the Wind shifted and we were able to sail, and in that 

 time had terrible Storms of Wind, Rain, Hail and Snow. It was very 

 astonishing to me to have such Weather in the Month of June, who had 

 never seen the like. On the 24th (after having waited Nine Days for the 

 Ship and a fair Wind) we sail'd, and that Evening Anchored in Loch Maddy. 

 On the 25th I march'd to Vala going part by Water and part by Land about 

 14 Miles, halted one Day the 26th. On the 27th I march'd round by the 

 Coast to Carinish about 12 Miles, from thence to the Island of Ballsher back, 

 and so over the Moor to Vala. 



This Country belongs to Sir James McDonald and to appearance, by 

 much the best Country of the whole long Island, that I have seen. The West 

 side of this Country is only inhabited, the soil is sandy, and in a wet season it 

 produces plenty of Corn and Grass ; it lies very low and flat towards the Sea, 

 but higher up towards the East are many Boggs and Mountains. The People 

 are very civil, and hitherto I have had no Complaints. They are all Presby- 

 terians and very well affected to His Majesty King George and His Family, 

 for they say, the late Sir Alexr. McDonald, desired them with his last 

 breath to be faithfull and obedient, to whose Memory I find they pay great 

 Veneration. He took a way all their Arms in the year 1746, which were 

 restored to the Government, since which they have had none amongst them. 

 This Island is reckon'd to be about Twenty computed Miles round, and 

 contains between two and three Hundred Families. Here is a Linnen Manu- 

 factory Establish'd among them which at present is but in its Infancy. If it 

 succeeds, it will be a means to turn the Genious of the People from Arms and 

 Licentiousness, to Trade and Industry. They yearly make great Sums of 

 Money by their Kelp. I have hitherto had but a superficial view of this Part 

 of the Country as I have been but a short time in it, but hope soon to give you 

 a more satisfactory Account of the whole. 



Here follows a List of the several Parties I have made in the parts I have 

 visited from Stornway to Killbride in South Uist, by which Means I have a 

 Communication from one Extream part of the long Island to the other, and 

 by which no ship, Boat or Person can come into any part of the Country, but 

 I can soon know it. 



I left at Stornway, Lieut. Nicolson 2 Sergts. I Corpl. and 26 Men, to be 

 disposed of as the Situation of that part of the Country, I have not visited, 

 may require 



From Stornway to Koise six mites... ... ... I Corpl. and 4 Men 



From Koise to Ballanllan five miles ... ... I Sergt. and 10 



From Ballanllan to Bonnevenitre twelve miles ... ... ... 4 



From Bonnevenitre to Loskiner nine miles I sub. I Sergt. and 7 



Frm Loskiner to Rowdil ten miles ... ... I Corpl. and 4 



At the Head of Loch Maddy four leagues by Water I Corpl. and 4 



From the Head of Loch Maddy to Sollos 8 miles I Do. and 4 



From Sollos to Vala I Capt. I Sergt. i Drum, and 2 



From Vala to Carinish 8 miles ... .. ... I Corpl. and 6 



From Carinish to Benbecula 6 miles ... ... I Corpl. and 4 



From Benbecula to Machairmeadhanach seven miles I Corpl. and 3 



From Machairmeadhanach to Houghmore 6 miles ... ... 4 



From Houghmore to Slaoinabroig 2 miles ... ... ... ... 4 



From Slaoinabroig to Gearrabhailteas 4 miles ... ... ... 4 



From Gearrabhailteas to Aisgiornish 2 miles ... ... ... 4 



From Aisgiornish to Boisdale 3 miles ... ... ... ... 4 



From Boisdale to Cillebhride 2 miles ... I Lieut. I Drum, and 3 



As I thought the Parties in South Uist were too near each other I have 

 wrote to Mr. Bulkeley to desire he will take off one or two of these Parties 



