her philosophical curiosity, nor commercial industry, have yet
fixed their abode here, where the importunity of immediate want supplied
but for the day, and craving on the morrow, has left little room for
excursive knowledge or the pleasing fancies of distant profit.

They have lately found a manufacture considerably lucrative. Their rocks
abound with kelp, a sea-plant, of which the ashes are melted into glass.
They burn kelp in great quantities, and then send it away in ships, which
come regularly to purchase them. This new source of riches has raised
the rents of many maritime farms; but the tenants pay, like all other
tenants, the additional rent with great unwillingness; because they
consider the profits of the kelp as the mere product of personal labour,
to which the landlord contributes nothing. However, as any man may be
said to give, what he gives the power of gaining, he has certainly as
much right to profit from the price of kelp as of any thing else found or
raised upon his ground.

This new trade has excited a long and eager litigation between Macdonald
and Macleod, for a ledge of rocks, which, till the value of kelp was
known, neither of them desired the reputation of possessing.

The cattle of Sky are not so small as is commonly believed. Since they
have sent their beeves in great numbers to southern marts, they have
probably taken more care of their breed. At stated times the annual
growth of cattle is driven to a fair, by a general drover, and with the
money, which he returns to the farmer, the rents are paid.

The price regularly expected, is from two to three pounds a head: there
was once one sold for five pounds. They go from the Islands very lean,
and are not offered to the butcher, till they have been long fatted in
English pastures.

Of their black cattle, some are without horns, called by the Scots humble
cows, as we call a bee an humble bee, that wants a sting. Whether this
difference be specifick, or accidental, though we inquired with great
diligence, we could not be informed. We are not very sure that the bull
is ever without horns, though we have been told, that such bulls there
are. What is produced by putting a horned and unhorned male and female
together, no man has ever tried, that thought the result worthy of
observation.

Their horses are, like their cows, of a moderate size. I had no
difficulty to mount myself commodiously by the favour of the gentlemen. I
heard of ver