ise, on such an
occasion, in the heart of one who had not been taught to lament by
precedent, I should gladly have known; but the lady, by whom I sat,
thought herself not equal to the work of translating.

Mr. Macleod is the proprietor of the islands of Raasay, Rona, and Fladda,
and possesses an extensive district in Sky. The estate has not, during
four hundred years, gained or lost a single acre. He acknowledges
Macleod of Dunvegan as his chief, though his ancestors have formerly
disputed the pre-eminence.

One of the old Highland alliances has continued for two hundred years,
and is still subsisting between Macleod of Raasay and Macdonald of Sky,
in consequence of which, the survivor always inherits the arms of the
deceased; a natural memorial of military friendship. At the death of the
late Sir James Macdonald, his sword was delivered to the present laird of
Raasay.

The family of Raasay consists of the laird, the lady, three sons and ten
daughters. For the sons there is a tutor in the house, and the lady is
said to be very skilful and diligent in the education of her girls. More
gentleness of manners, or a more pleasing appearance of domestick
society, is not found in the most polished countries.

Raasay is the only inhabited island in Mr. Macleod's possession. Rona
and Fladda afford only pasture for cattle, of which one hundred and sixty
winter in Rona, under the superintendence of a solitary herdsman.

The length of Raasay is, by computation, fifteen miles, and the breadth
two. These countries have never been measured, and the computation by
miles is negligent and arbitrary. We observed in travelling, that the
nominal and real distance of places had very little relation to each
other. Raasay probably contains near a hundred square miles. It affords
not much ground, notwithstanding its extent, either for tillage, or
pasture; for it is rough, rocky, and barren. The cattle often perish by
falling from the precipices. It is like the other islands, I think,
generally naked of shade, but it is naked by neglect; for the laird has
an orchard, and very large forest trees grow about his house. Like other
hilly countries it has many rivulets. One of the brooks turns a corn-
mill, and at least one produces trouts.

In the streams or fresh lakes of the Islands, I have never heard of any
other fish than trouts and eels. The trouts, which I have seen, are not
large; the colour of their flesh is tinged as in