n's cattle
invade another's grass, drives them back to their own borders. But other
means of profit begin to be found; kelp is gathered and burnt, and sloops
are loaded with the concreted ashes. Cultivation is likely to be
improved by the skill and encouragement of the present heir, and the
inhabitants of those obscure vallies will partake of the general progress
of life.

The rents of the parts which belong to the Duke of Argyle, have been
raised from fifty-five to one hundred and five pounds, whether from the
land or the sea I cannot tell. The bounties of the sea have lately been
so great, that a farm in Southuist has risen in ten years from a rent of
thirty pounds to one hundred and eighty.

He who lives in Col, and finds himself condemned to solitary meals, and
incommunicable reflection, will find the usefulness of that middle order
of Tacksmen, which some who applaud their own wisdom are wishing to
destroy. Without intelligence man is not social, he is only gregarious;
and little intelligence will there be, where all are constrained to daily
labour, and every mind must wait upon the hand.

After having listened for some days to the tempest, and wandered about
the Island till our curiosity was satisfied, we began to think about our
departure. To leave Col in October was not very easy. We however found
a sloop which lay on the coast to carry kelp; and for a price which we
thought levied upon our necessities, the master agreed to carry us to
Mull, whence we might readily pass back to Scotland.

MULL

As we were to catch the first favourable breath, we spent the night not
very elegantly nor pleasantly in the vessel, and were landed next day at
Tobor Morar, a port in Mull, which appears to an unexperienced eye formed
for the security of ships; for its mouth is closed by a small island,
which admits them through narrow channels into a bason sufficiently
capacious. They are indeed safe from the sea, but there is a hollow
between the mountains, through which the wind issues from the land with
very mischievous violence.

There was no danger while we were there, and we found several other
vessels at anchor; so that the port had a very commercial appearance.

The young Laird of Col, who had determined not to let us lose his
company, while there was any difficulty remaining, came over with us. His
influence soon appeared; for he procured us horses, and conducted us to
the house of Doctor Maclean, where