author gives various anecdotes of the second sight, which he had picked
up during his visits to those remote islands, which until the publication
of his tour were almost unknown to the world. It will not be amiss to
observe here that the term second sight is of Lowland Scotch origin, and
first made its appearance in print in Martin's book. The Gaelic term for
the faculty is taibhsearachd, the literal meaning of which is what is
connected with a spectral appearance, the root of the word being taibhse,
a spectral appearance or vision.

Then there is the History of Duncan Campbell. The father of this person
was a native of Shetland, who, being shipwrecked on the coast of Swedish
Lapland, and hospitably received by the natives, married a woman of the
country, by whom he had Duncan, who was born deaf and dumb. On the death
of his mother the child was removed by his father to Scotland, where he
was educated and taught the use of the finger alphabet, by means of which
people are enabled to hold discourse with each other, without moving the
lips or tongue. This alphabet was originally invented in Scotland, and
at the present day is much in use there, not only amongst dumb people,
but many others, who employ it as a silent means of communication.
Nothing is more usual than to see passengers in a common conveyance in
Scotland discoursing with their fingers. Duncan at an early period gave
indications of possessing the second sight. After various adventures he
came to London, where for many years he practised as a fortune-teller,
pretending to answer all questions, whether relating to the past or the
future, by means of the second sight. There can be no doubt that this
man was to a certain extent an impostor; no person exists having a
thorough knowledge either of the past or future by means of the second
sight, which only visits particular people by fits and starts, and which
is quite independent of individual will; but it is equally certain that
he disclosed things which no person could have been acquainted with
without visitations of the second sight. His papers fell into the hands
of Defoe, who wrought them up in his own peculiar manner, and gave them
to the world under the title of the Life of Mr Duncan Campbell, the Deaf
and Dumb Gentleman: with an appendix containing many anecdotes of the
second sight from Martin's tour.

But by far the most remarkable book in existence, connected with the
second sight, is one in t