SKY 
SKY 
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little progress in this island. The quantity of grain raised 
in favourable seasons, is reckoned not to exceed 9000 bolls; 
500 tons of kelp are annually manufactured; and 3000 cattle 
are exported. The promontories, or headlands, are rocks of 
immense height. In some parts are basaltic colums, resem¬ 
bling those of Staffa. About a mile south of Talysker, on 
the soulh-west coast, there is a high hill, having in front a 
series of basaltic columns, above 20 feet in height, and con¬ 
sisting mostly of five angles. At a small distance from them 
on the slope of a hill, is a track of several roods, formed of 
the tops of columns, close set, and exhibiting a reticulatad 
series of amazing beauty. There is abundance of freestone, 
limestone, granite, with some veins of marble, and appear¬ 
ances of lead and iron ore in various places. In the parish 
of Snizort there is a perpendicular rock or obelisk, about 360 
feet in circumference at the base, and terminating in a sharp 
point, perhaps 300 feet in height; and, in the same side of 
the parish, there is a beautiful cataract about 90 feet high, 
with an arched hollow path in the middle across the rock, 
along which five or six persons may walk abreast with perfect 
safety. Agriculture is still in a very backward state; and if 
the land were inclosed, drained, and sheltered, the aspect of 
the country would be entirely altered. The crooked spade is 
almost the only utensil used by the common class of tenants, 
for labouring the ground. There are excellent carriage roads 
in the island. One executed by the parliamentary commis¬ 
sioners, jointly with the proprietors, from the point of Sleat, 
continues in a line along the whole coast on the east, till it 
reaches Portree near the north end; thence it takes a westerly 
direction till it terminates on the confines of the district of 
Bracadale on the west. Other improvements in the island 
have lately advanced considerably. The island is well wa¬ 
tered by a number of rivers, abounding with trout and sal¬ 
mon. In the small rivers Kilmartin and Ord, is found the 
great horse muscle, in which pearls are formed. There is 
also a number of fresh water lakes, well stored with trout and 
eel. The largest of these lakes takes its denomination from 
St. Columba, to whom a chapel, which stands on a small 
island in the lake, is dedicated. The coasts are in general 
bold and rocky, abounding with many safe and commodious 
bays. The most considerable of those are Snizort and Ful- 
lart on the north coast, Bracadale on the west, and Portree 
on the east coast. Snizort loch, or bay, contains a group of 
islets called Asorib. Loch Bracadale forms a beautiful land¬ 
locked harbour, abounding in safe creeks and islets. The 
basin south of the village of Portree, in Trotternish, on the 
sound of Raasay, would answer well for a dry dock, where 
damaged vessels might be easily repaired. Many curious 
grottos, druidical monuments, and ancient forts, are found in 
this island. At Struan are the remains of a circular fort, 42 
feet in diameter, on the top of a rock. The castle of Dun- 
vegan is situated on a high rock at the bottom of Loch Fallert 
bay, on the west coast. It forms two sides of a small square, 
and on the third side there is a Danish tower; between this 
castle and Talysker, on the west coast, is the ruin of a thick 
wall, aud the traces of a dike quite round a steep rock, acces¬ 
sible on one side; and on the summit of another rock is a 
Danish circular inciosure, composed of excellent masonry 
without cement. The diameter of the inside is 42 feet; and 
within are vestiges of five small circular apartments. The 
walls of the enclosure are of considerable height, and the en¬ 
trance is six feet high, covered with flags. About two miles 
northward are two large cairns. Duntuilm castle, i. e. the 
castle of the round grassy eminence, originally a seat of the 
Macdonalds, now lies in ruins, on the verge of a lofty preci¬ 
pice, near the northern extremity of the island. There are 
several agreeable seats and villages planted on the coasts and 
borders of lakes. Opposite to Hunish, the northern promon¬ 
tory, there is a rapid current; and at no great distance are 
the dangerous rocks of Sker-na-mili. Many valuable mine¬ 
rals have been discovered, but none have been wrought to 
any advantage. In many places the hills exhibit marks of 
volcanic fire. In the parish of Strath, limestone and marl 
are abundant, and there is some marble of an inferior quality. 
Near the village of Sleat are found marcasites of various 
kinds, and finely variegated pebbles. A valley near Loch 
Fallart produces fine agates, and many of the rivulets contain 
topazes, washed down from the hills in mountain torrents. 
Rock crystals and other precious stones are also found, after 
heavy rains, among the debris at the foot of the hill. The 
south and west coasts abound with coral, both red and white. 
The island is divided into seven pardchial districts, which con¬ 
tain upwards of 18,000 inhabitants, who dwell for the most 
part in scattered villages, as convenience of situation in¬ 
vites. It belonged formerly to lord Macdonald, the laird of 
Macleod, and the laird of Mackinnon; but now there are 
many other proprietors in it—Macallister of Strathaird, Mac¬ 
donald of Lyndale, Macdonald of Scalpa, Mr. C. Grant of 
Vaternish, M. P., and several others. 
SKY'ED, adj. Enveloped by the skies.—This is unau¬ 
thorized, and inelegant. 
The pale deluge floats 
O’er the sky'd mountain to the shadowy vale. Thomson. 
SKY'EY, adj. Ethereal.—[Not very elegantly formed.] 
A breath thou art, 
Servile to all the skyey influences, 
That do this habitation, where thou keep’st. 
Hourly afflict. Shakspeare. 
SKY'ISH, adj. Coloured by the ether; approaching the sky. 
Of this flat a mountain you have made, 
T’ o’ertop old Pelion, or the skyish head, 
Of blue Olympus. Shakspeare. 
SKY'LARK, s. A lark that mounts and sings.—He next 
proceeded to the skylark, mounting up by a proper scale of 
notes, and afterwards falling to the ground with a very easy 
descent. Spectator. 
SKY'LIGHT, s. A window placed in a room, not later¬ 
ally, but in the cieling.—A monstrous fowl dropt through 
the skylight, near his wife’s apartment. Arbuthnot. 
SKYRO, Skvros, or Schkiri, an island of the Grecian 
archipelago, to the east of Negroponte. It is about 60 miles 
in circumference, and is extremely rugged, being covered with 
steep and naked rocks; these are, however, separated by some 
fruitful spots, producing wheat, barley, and tolerably good 
wine, and affording pasture to flocks of goats and sheep. 
Agriculture is, however, much neglected, and the 2000 
Greeks who inhabit the island, live in a state of extreme po¬ 
verty. In a wretched village of the same name resides a 
Greek bishop. Lat. 38. 52. N. long 24. 33. E. 
SKYRO-POULO, a small island of the Archipelago, be¬ 
tween Skyros and the coast of Negroponte; 6 miles west of 
the former. 
SKY'ROCKET, s. A kind of fire-work, which flies high, 
and burns as it flies.—I considered a comet, or, in the lan¬ 
guage of the vulgar, a blazing star, as a skyrocket discharged 
by an hand that is almighty. Addison. 
SKYTTE (Benedict), was born in 1614, and studied at 
Upsal. In 1629 he accompanied the Swedish ambassador, 
general Spence, to England, where on taking his leave, he 
was knighted by king Charles I. After this he continued 
his studies at Dorpat, and travelled for his improvement, 
during which queen Christiana gave him a place in her 
household. He enjoyed for several years the favour of his 
sovereign; but afterwards fell into disgrace, and was brought 
to trial, but he made such an able defence that he was ac¬ 
quitted, and all the proceedings against him were annulled. 
He was restored to his seat as senator, and in 1665 was 
appointed governor of Esthonia. He was employed on an 
important mission by king Charles Gustavus to the Duke of 
Courland, and he managed the business so well, that he re¬ 
ceived the approbation and cordial thanks of his sovereign. 
His good fortune again deserted him; he was dismissed from 
his offices at the diet held in 1664, and declared incapable of 
ever being employed either at home or abroad. After this he 
retired to his estate, and spent his time in literary pursuits till 
his death, in 1683. He was a man of great learning, and 
made himself known by various works, among which were 
the following: “ Dissertatiuncula de Argumento quod Fse- 
minae, Otficium Legati mandari possit,” 4to.: “ Oratio qua 
probatur 
