604 HISTORY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. 



had great fatiques and are almost in a total want of necessaries, shoes particu- 

 larly, and I am told provisions will soon be very scarce. Having no other 

 Extraordinaries, I have the Honour to be, 



Sir, etc., 



Signed JOHN BARLOW. 



REPORT FROM CAPTAIN BARLOW OF THE BUFFS, GIVING A 

 DESCRIPTION OF THE WESTERN ISLES OF SCOTLAND 

 WHERE THE PARTIES UNDER HIS COMMAND WERE 

 EMPLOYED ON OUTPOST DUTY. SUMMER 1753. 



The situation of the Western Isles, from what Observations I have been 

 able to make whilst I had the Honour to command in them I shall lay 

 down in as concise a manner as possible. And first I shall begin with 

 Lewis and Stornway. 



This country belongs to Lord Fortrose, and by the best Computation I 

 can make, is about Thirty Miles long, and as many in breadth, the greatest 

 part of which is rocky, Mountainous, and full of Boggs, particularly the 

 East side of the Country. The Inhabitants are Protestants, and in Number 

 about Six Thousand. They live mostly on the Western Coast which is 

 tollerably fertile, and capable of great improvements, but they support them- 

 selves chiefly by their Fisheries, so that their Lands are much neglected. 



Stornway is the Chieff Town and contains about One Hundred Houses 

 or Huts, misirably built, and the only covering is loose straw or Heather 

 shook upon them which is bound down with ropes made of the same 

 materials to prevent the winds blowing it away. They carry on a consider- 

 able Trade with Norway, France and Holland, having a very safe com- 

 modious Harbour, and about Thirty vessels great and small belonging to 

 the Town. There is the Remains of an Old Fort built (strengthened) by 

 (order of) Oliver Cromwell, which was demolished by the English Garrison 

 when they were withdrawn from that Country in the Reign of King 

 Charles 2nd. Several of the Merchants of Stornway are in good Circum- 

 stances and the place might thrive mightily, were it not, that the Inhabitants 

 labour under great tyrrany and oppression from the unbounded Authority 

 of his Lordship's Factor, who is a Sheriff Substitute, but never held a Court, 

 nor took Cognisance of any one Crime punishable by Law. I have been 

 lately informed that he is dead ; if so it will be a great relief to those poor 

 people, unless another of the same Mercinary Disposition should be appointed 

 in his room. 



The Harris joins to the Lewis and seperated from it only by Loch Tarbot 

 and some high Craigie mountains. This part of the Country belongs to the 

 Laird of McLeod, and is about Ten Miles long, and in some parts Seven 

 or Eight broad. The Face of the Country is pretty much the same with 

 that of the Lewis. The Inhabitants including those of the small Islands 

 which make part of the Harris, may amount to Eight or nine hundred Souls, 

 more or less. They are all Protestants of the Kirk of Scotland, not one 

 Man in the whole Country dissenting from it. 



Donald McLeod is Baillie or Factor for McLeod, and was in the last 

 Rebellion, and the only one that went out of the Harris. I crossed from 

 Rowdel to Loch Mardy in North Uist, four Leagues by Water. This Island 

 belongs to Sir James McDonald, and is about Twenty computed Miles in 

 Circumference, and by much the pleasantest of the whole. The East part of 

 the Country, indeed is very boggy, and there are a few Mountains, but the 

 West side of the Country is extremely fertile and pleasant. The Sea gains 

 greatly upon this part of the Island, for the Inhabitants are at no pains to 

 stop its progress. The number of Souls in this Island from Seven Years of 

 age and upwards, as they stand Registered upon the Parish Books, are about 

 Sixteen Hundred. They seem a friendly, kind People, but Meer slaves to 





