aditions, and see
antiquated manners, should probably have found them amongst the Papists.

Canna, the other Popish Island, belongs to Clanronald. It is said not to
comprise more than twelve miles of land, and yet maintains as many
inhabitants as Rum.

We were at Col under the protection of the young Laird, without any of
the distresses, which Mr. Pennant, in a fit of simple credulity, seems to
think almost worthy of an elegy by Ossian. Wherever we roved, we were
pleased to see the reverence with which his subjects regarded him. He
did not endeavour to dazzle them by any magnificence of dress: his only
distinction was a feather in his bonnet; but as soon as he appeared, they
forsook their work and clustered about him: he took them by the hand, and
they seemed mutually delighted. He has the proper disposition of a
Chieftain, and seems desirous to continue the customs of his house. The
bagpiper played regularly, when dinner was served, whose person and dress
made a good appearance; and he brought no disgrace upon the family of
Rankin, which has long supplied the Lairds of Col with hereditary musick.

The Tacksmen of Col seem to live with less dignity and convenience than
those of Sky; where they had good houses, and tables not only plentiful,
but delicate. In Col only two houses pay the window tax; for only two
have six windows, which, I suppose, are the Laird's and Mr. Macsweyn's.

The rents have, till within seven years, been paid in kind, but the
tenants finding that cattle and corn varied in their price, desired for
the future to give their landlord money; which, not having yet arrived at
the philosophy of commerce, they consider as being every year of the same
value.

We were told of a particular mode of under-tenure. The Tacksman admits
some of his inferior neighbours to the cultivation of his grounds, on
condition that performing all the work, and giving a third part of the
seed, they shall keep a certain number of cows, sheep, and goats, and
reap a third part of the harvest. Thus by less than the tillage of two
acres they pay the rent of one.

There are tenants below the rank of Tacksmen, that have got smaller
tenants under them; for in every place, where money is not the general
equivalent, there must be some whose labour is immediately paid by daily
food.

A country that has no money, is by no means convenient for beggars, both
because such countries are commonly poor, and because charity requires