Isles.

inhabitants had in that business cannot be now ascertain- Inhabited ed, but it was probably not very great, as most of the operations were performed by people from the county of Fife, who being called home in the commotions that then shook the kingdom, all fell in the battle of Kilsyth; and this circumstance unfortunately put an end to that promising species of industry. The island has two harbours, or rather places of retreat, for ships; Linga Sound on the west, and Papay Sound on the north-east.

Papay Stronsay is a pleasant little level island, of about 17. Papay, three miles in circuit, on the north-east of the former.

Eday is nearly in the centre of the north isles. It is about 18. Eday. five miles and a half long, and nearly one and a half broad. It consists chiefly of hills of a moderate height, affording excellent pasture. It possesses two good harbours or roadsteads, each sheltered by a small islet, where vessels of any burden may ride in safety. The one is called Calf Sound, and the other Fiersness.

Farey is a small island, distant from the former about 19. Fareg, two miles to the west, not exceeding two miles in length and one in breadth, rather flat, and covered with verdure. Besides a very advantageous situation for fishing, it has a soil and surface more than sufficient to raise both corn and cattle, in ordinary years, to answer every demand of the inhabitants.

Sanday, so called from the nature of its soil, is in ex-20. Sanday. tent of about twelve miles in length, varying in breadth from one mile or less, in some places, to two or three in others. Its form is very irregular, having many extended points, with bays running a considerable way inland. It lies to the north-east of the isles of Eday and Stronsay, from which it is separated by a channel from two to three miles broad. The surface is low and flat, particularly on the east coast, which not only renders

Isles,

Inhabited the coast dangerous to mariners, but subjects the island to inundation from a spring tide with a gale of easterly wind. The soil is every where mixed with sand, and when well manured with sea-ware produces as good crops as any island in the Orkneys. The making of kelp is the chief employment of the people during the summer; and no island of the Orkneys, of the same extent of sea-coast, produces an equal quantity with this island. It generally produces 500 or 600 tons; and 620 tons have been made in a season. The two principal harbours are, Kettletofet on the south, and Otterswick on the north side of the island, both pretty safe and commodious.

27. North Ronaldsay.

22. West

North Ronaldsay is situated to the north of Sanday, at the distance of two miles, and divided from it by a very rapid and dangerous frith. It contains about four square miles. It is little raised above the level of the sea; and at least 100 tons of kelp are annually manufactured on the shore. Westray is of more importance. It lies on the northwest quarter of the whole islands. In form it resembles a cross, the body of which is eight, and its arms about five miles in length. Through this whole extent, which stretches from south-east to north-west, it forms a ridge, low on the shores, and gently elevated towards the middle; and from south to north, on the west side, a range of pretty high hills forms its boundary in that direction. The cultivated lands and the principal grass-pastures are on the east end, and on the north and south shores; a large portion of them are on the south-west, where both are uncommonly fine; and as the waste land lies in the middle of these tracts, what is on the west and north-west is inferior neither in quantity nor quality. The island contains abundance of peat for fuel. Much corn is raised, but of an indifferent quality; but the grass is good; and in the boisterous seas around it, abundance of fish are found. On the east and south are two bays, to which ships retire

Isles.

in summer; but the only safe harbour is called Pier-o- Inhabited wall, on the north-west; and this is fit for small vessels only. Formerly it afforded accommodation for ships of much greater burden, and it is sheltered in all directions; but from the blowing of the sand, which of late has been very great, the water has become so shallow, that ships which have occasion to put in here are compelled to anchor in a more open road farther out in the harbour. The blowing of the sand has also spread desolation over some of the most beautiful and best land, not only in this island, but also in Sanday.

Westray.

Papay Westray is a beautiful little island to the north 23. Papay of the former. It is four miles long and about one mile broad. It is pleasant and fertile, and abounds with fine natural clover. A lake of fresh water adorns its southeast corner.

hay.

Eagleshay is about six miles south of Westray, and 24. Eagles. divided from it by a tempestuous frith. It is about two miles long and one broad; and in this part of the world is accounted so beautiful, as to have been chosen as a place of residence by some of the ancient counts and bishops of Orkney

Ronsay lies to the north-west of the Mainland, and 25. Ronsay. is about nine miles long and four broad. The greatest part of it is hill-ground, but it has some stripes of arable land on the coast. It has several small lakes, which give rise to a number of rivulets. It has several safe harbours, and is accounted one of the most agreeable of the Orkney Isles.

Weir is divided from Ronsay by Weir Sound, which 26. Weir. is one of the best retreats for shipping in the district. The island is two miles long and one broad, and lies comparatively low. It has abundance of turf for fuel, but its soil

is poor.

En-hallow is only about a mile in circumference. It is 27. En-hal

low.

Isles.

Inhabited separated from Ronsay by a reef of rocks, which is covered at high water, and therefore dangerous. It contains,two families, who say that neither rats, mice, nor cats, will live in it.

28. Gair

say.

29. Dam

say.

Agricul

ture.

Gairsay is a mile from the Mainland, and two miles south from Weir. It is two miles long and one broad; consisting chiefly of a hill that is steep on the west side, but gradually declines, forming a tolerably fertile district on the east. It has a harbour, called Millburn, on this last side.

Damsay is about three miles from Kirkwall. It is scarcely a mile in circuit, and is covered with a thick sward of fine grass, which is used for the pasturage of sheep.

On the supposition that these islands contain 600 square miles, or 384,000 English acres, which is the calculation made by Templeman, they may be divided in the following proportions:

Live stock.

Crops.

The breeds of horses, black cattle, and sheep, are all of a despicable sort, and very little attention has been given to their improvement. The grains cultivated in these islands are almost universally grey oats and big or bear, and these in alternate crops without intermission. Bear has succeeded to oats, and oats to bear, invariably, on the same land for centuries. No fallow or other crop has intervened, unless a few acres annually cropped with pota

ture.

toes or flax are excepted. Fallowing is of late a little prae- Agricul tised by the larger farmers, but not at all by the smaller ones, though those who have tried it have found its great advantages. A few acres are annually cultivated for turnip; a crop which seems here to be in its peculiar climate. Upwards of thirty-six tons per Scottish acre have been produced in single rows on three feet ridges ; many single turnips weighing from fourteen to eighteen pounds. They are scarcely ever injured by the blackfly, or other insects; they are never hurt by frost; if they are ever covered by snow, it is only for a day or two at a time, and if sown late in summer, so that they do not shoot in the early part of the winter, they stand good and firm till the end of April; yet is this crop so little cultivated, that no more than six or eight farmers in these islands have field turnips; and the whole yearly quantity does not exceed thirty or forty acres.

Sea-weed is the manure most used and most prized in Manures. the islands. Compost dunghils are made, in which dung, ashes, and earth, are mixed with little skill or care. Marl, though frequently to be met with, is little used; and lime has scarcely ever had a fair trial. The land is always manured when bear is to be the crop, but never for oats.

ments

The Scottish plough, of a small size, is in common use, ImpleA plough of a very peculiar construction, with one stilt, without either ground wrist or earth board, was the only instrument of tillage in these islands a century ago, and still continues in common use in some parishes. In shallow or rocky ground it is found to answer better, as it is a much cheaper instrument than the other; to which nevertheless it is now generally giving place. Small two-wheeled box-carts are in common use, drawn by two oxen or one horse. The common harrows are very small and light, often with wooden teeth, even where the soil is strongest. The roller is little used, and not at all by the small