370 



THE BRITISH ISLES. 



Caitiixkss forms the nortli-oastoni extremity of Great Britain, and near 

 Duncansby Head stood John o' Groat's house, often proverbially alluded to. Very 

 different from the Hig-hland counties, it is an old red sandstone country of undu- 

 lating surface, for the greater part capable of cultivation, though still largely 



Fig. 189. — Leusvick. 

 From an Admirnlty Chart. Scale 1 : 150,000. 







'-ffead 



^^ 





\ 







4 



2 MUes. 



covered with moors and marshes. It differs, too, in its population, Gaelic being 

 spoken only in the interior. JFick, on the east coast, is the principal town, 

 and one of the chief seats of the herring fishery, which also occupies the bulk of 

 the people of T/nirso, on the northern shore. Both these towns possess excellent 

 harbours. Smaller fishing villages are Li/bster, Canishau (with a castle of the 



