are in great numbers； and they have the common domestick fowls。
But as here is nothing to be bought； every family must kill its own
meat； and roast part of it somewhat sooner than Apicius would
prescribe。 Every kind of flesh is undoubtedly excelled by the
variety and emulation of English markets； but that which is not
best may be yet very far from bad； and he that shall complain of
his fare in the Hebrides； has improved his delicacy more than his
manhood。
Their fowls are not like those plumped for sale by the poulterers
of London； but they are as good as other places commonly afford；
except that the geese； by feeding in the sea； have universally a
fishy rankness。
These geese seem to be of a middle race； between the wild and
domestick kinds。 They are so tame as to own a home； and so wild as
sometimes to fly quite away。
Their native bread is made of oats； or barley。 Of oatmeal they
spread very thin cakes； coarse and hard； to which unaccustomed
palates are not easily reconciled。 The barley cakes are thicker
and softer； I began to eat them without unwillingness； the
blackness of their colour raises some dislike； but the taste is not
disagreeable。 In most houses there is wheat flower； with which we
were sure to be treated； if we staid long enough to have it kneaded
and baked。 As neither yeast nor leaven are used among them； their
bread of every kind is unfermented。 They make only cakes； and
never mould a loaf。
A man of the Hebrides； for of the women's diet I can give no
account； as soon as he appears in the morning； swallows a glass of
whisky； yet they are not a drunken race； at least I never was
present at much intemperance； but no man is so abstemious as to
refuse the morning dram； which they call a skalk。
The word whisky signifies water； and is applied by way of eminence
to strong water； or distilled liquor。 The spirit drunk in the
North is drawn from barley。 I never tasted it； except once for
experiment at the inn in Inverary； when I thought it preferable to
any English malt brandy。 It was strong； but not pungent； and was
free from the empyreumatick taste or smell。 What was the process I
had no opportunity of inquiring； nor do I wish to improve the art
of making poison pleasant。
Not long after the dram； may be expected the breakfast； a meal in
which the Scots； whether of the lowlands or mountains； must be
confessed to excel us。 The tea and coffee are accompanied not only
with butter； but with honey； conserves； and marmalades。 If an
epicure could remove by a wish； in quest of sensual gratifications；
wherever he had supped he would breakfast in Scotland。
In the islands however； they do what I found it not very easy to
endure。 They pollute the tea…table by plates piled with large
slices of cheshire cheese； which mingles its less grateful odours
with the fragrance of the tea。
Where many questions are to be asked； some will be omitted。 I
forgot to inquire how they were supplied with so much exotic
luxury。 Perhaps the French may bring them wine for wool； and the
Dutch give them tea and coffee at the fishing season； in exchange
for fresh provision。 Their trade is unconstrained； they pay no
customs； for there is no officer to demand them； whatever therefore
is made dear only by impost； is obtained here at an easy rate。
A dinner in the Western Islands differs very little from a dinner
in England； except that in the place of tarts； there are always set
different preparations of milk。 This part of their diet will admit
some improvement。 Though they have milk； and eggs； and sugar； few
of them know how to compound them in a custard。 Their gardens
afford them no great variety； but they have always some vegetables
on the table。 Potatoes at least are never wanting； which； though
they have not known them long； are now one of the principal parts
of their food。 They are not of the mealy； but the viscous kind。
Their more elaborate cookery； or made dishes； an Englishman at the
first taste is not likely to approve； but the culinary compositions
of every country are often such as become grateful to other nations
only by degrees； though I have read a French author； who； in the
elation of his heart； says； that French cookery pleases all
foreigners； but foreign cookery never satisfies a Frenchman。
Their suppers are； like their dinners； various and plentiful。 The
table is always covered with elegant linen。 Their plates for
common use are often of that kind of manufacture which is called
cream coloured； or queen's ware。 They use silver on all occasions
where it is common in England； nor did I ever find the spoon of
horn； but in one house。
The knives are not often either very bright； or very sharp。 They
are indeed instruments of which the Highlanders have not been long
acquainted with the general use。 They were not regularly laid on
the table； before the prohibition of arms； and the change of dress。
Thirty years ago the Highlander wore his knife as a companion to
his dirk or dagger； and when the company sat down to meat； the men
who had knives； cut the flesh into small pieces for the women； who
with their fingers conveyed it to their mouths。
There was perhaps never any change of national manners so quick； so
great； and so general； as that which has operated in the Highlands；
by the last conquest； and the subsequent laws。 We came thither too
late to see what we expected； a people of peculiar appearance； and
a system of antiquated life。 The clans retain little now of their
original character； their ferocity of temper is softened； their
military ardour is extinguished； their dignity of independence is
depressed； their contempt of government subdued； and the reverence
for their chiefs abated。 Of what they had before the late conquest
of their country； there remain only their language and their
poverty。 Their language is attacked on every side。 Schools are
erected； in which English only is taught； and there were lately
some who thought it reasonable to refuse them a version of the holy
scriptures； that they might have no monument of their mother…
tongue。
That their poverty is gradually abated； cannot be mentioned among
the unpleasing consequences of subjection。 They are now acquainted
with money； and the possibility of gain will by degrees make them
industrious。 Such is the effect of the late regulations； that a
longer journey than to the Highlands must be taken by him whose
curiosity pants for savage virtues and barbarous grandeur。
RAASAY
At the first intermission of the stormy weather we were informed；
that the boat； which was to convey us to Raasay； attended us on the
coast。 We had from this time our intelligence facilitated； and our
conversation enlarged； by the company of Mr。 Macqueen； minister of
a parish in Sky； whose knowledge and politeness give him a title
equally to kindness and respect； and who； from this time； never
forsook us till we were preparing to leave Sky； and the adjacent
places。
The boat was under the direction of Mr。 Malcolm Macleod； a
gentleman of Raasay。 The water was calm； and the rowers were
vigorous； so that our passage was quick and pleasant。 When we came
near the island； we saw the laird's house； a neat modern fabrick；
and found Mr。 Macleod； the proprietor of the Island； with many
gentlemen； expecting us on the beach。 We had； as at all other
places； some difficulty in landing。 The craggs were irregularly
broken； and a false step would have been very mischievous。
It seemed that the rocks might； with no great labour； have been
hewn almost into a regular flight of steps； and as there are no
other landing places； I considered this rugged ascent as the
consequence of a form of life inured to hardships； and therefore
not studious of nice accommodations。 But I know not whether； for
many ages； it was not considered as a part of military policy； to
keep the country not easily accessible。 The rocks are natural
fortifications； and an enemy climbing with difficulty； was easily
destroyed by those who stood high above him。
Our reception exceeded our expectations。 We found nothing but
civility； elegance； and plenty。 After the usual refreshments； and
the usual conversation； the evening came upon us。 The carpet was
then rolled off the floor； the musician was called； and the whole
company was invited to dance； nor did ever fairies trip with
greater alacrity。 The general air of festivity； which predominated
in this place； so far remote from all those regions which the mind
has been used to contemplate as the mansions of pleasure； struck
the imagination with a delightful surprise； analogous to that which
is felt at an unexpected emersion from darkness into light。
When it was time to sup； the dance ceased； and six and thirty
persons sat down to two tables in the same room。 After supper the
ladies sung Erse songs； to which I listened as an English audience
to an Italian opera； delighted with the sound of words which I did
not understand。
I inquired the subjects of the songs； and was told of one； that it
was a love song； and of another； that it was a farewell composed by
one of the Islanders that was going； in this epidemical fury of
emigration； to seek his fortune in America。 What sentiments would
arise； on such an occasion； in the heart of one who had not been
taught to lament by precedent； I should gladly have known； but the
lady； by whom I sat； thought herself not equal to the work of
translating。
Mr。 Macleod is the proprietor of the islands of Raasay； Rona； and
Fladda； and possesses an extensive district in Sky。 The estate has
not； during four hundred years； gained or lost a single acre。 He
acknowledges Macleod of Dunvegan as his chief； though his ancestors
have formerly disputed the pre…eminence。
One of the old Highland alliances has continued for two hundred
years； and is still subsisting between Macleod of Raasay and
Macdonald of Sky； in consequence of which； the survivor always
inherits the arms of the deceased； a natural memorial of military
friendship。 At the death of the late Sir James Macdonald； his
sword was delivered to the present laird of Raasay。
The family of Raasay consists of the la