For This Purpose, The Most Commodious Station That We Could Take
Was Armidel, Which Sir Alexander Macdonald Had Now Left To A
Gentleman, Who Lived There As His Factor Or Steward.
In our way to Armidel was Coriatachan, where we had already been,
and to which therefore we were very willing to return.
We staid
however so long at Talisker, that a great part of our journey was
performed in the gloom of the evening. In travelling even thus
almost without light thro' naked solitude, when there is a guide
whose conduct may be trusted, a mind not naturally too much
disposed to fear, may preserve some degree of cheerfulness; but
what must be the solicitude of him who should be wandering, among
the craggs and hollows, benighted, ignorant, and alone?
The fictions of the Gothick romances were not so remote from
credibility as they are now thought. In the full prevalence of the
feudal institution, when violence desolated the world, and every
baron lived in a fortress, forests and castles were regularly
succeeded by each other, and the adventurer might very suddenly
pass from the gloom of woods, or the ruggedness of moors, to seats
of plenty, gaiety, and magnificence. Whatever is imaged in the
wildest tale, if giants, dragons, and enchantment be excepted,
would be felt by him, who, wandering in the mountains without a
guide, or upon the sea without a pilot, should be carried amidst
his terror and uncertainty, to the hospitality and elegance of
Raasay or Dunvegan.
To Coriatachan at last we came, and found ourselves welcomed as
before. Here we staid two days, and made such inquiries as
curiosity suggested. The house was filled with company, among whom
Mr. Macpherson and his sister distinguished themselves by their
politeness and accomplishments. By him we were invited to Ostig, a
house not far from Armidel, where we might easily hear of a boat,
when the weather would suffer us to leave the Island.
OSTIG IN SKY
At Ostig, of which Mr. Macpherson is minister, we were entertained
for some days, then removed to Armidel, where we finished our
observations on the island of Sky.
As this Island lies in the fifty-seventh degree, the air cannot be
supposed to have much warmth. The long continuance of the sun
above the horizon, does indeed sometimes produce great heat in
northern latitudes; but this can only happen in sheltered places,
where the atmosphere is to a certain degree stagnant, and the same
mass of air continues to receive for many hours the rays of the
sun, and the vapours of the earth. Sky lies open on the west and
north to a vast extent of ocean, and is cooled in the summer by
perpetual ventilation, but by the same blasts is kept warm in
winter. Their weather is not pleasing. Half the year is deluged
with rain. From the autumnal to the vernal equinox, a dry day is
hardly known, except when the showers are suspended by a tempest.
Under such skies can be expected no great exuberance of vegetation.
Their winter overtakes their summer, and their harvest lies upon
the ground drenched with rain.
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