By the Rev. Mr William McKenzie, and the Rev. Mr Hugh Ross
Islands:
The principal islands on the coast are, Ealan na Coomb, or Ealan na Naoimph i.e. the Island of Saints, Ealan nan Roan, or island of seals, and the Rabbit Island. Ealan na Coomb had formerly a chapel and burial place in it, the traces of which are still to be seen. On the south side of the island, the sea, after passing for several yards through a narrow channel, spouts up into the air sometimes to the height of 30 feet, through a hole in the rock, which in shape and size is like the moon at full; and a few seconds afterwards, there is a discharge of water resembling the explosion of a cannon. This happens only when it is half flood, and a smart gale from the north - west. Ealan na Roan is about 2 miles in circumference, and is inhabited by 4 families, consisting of 36 persons. It is formed of a mixture of sand, and a reddish kind of pebble, which appears as if baked together, About 7 years ago, part of the ground near the middle of the island, sunk in without any visible cause; and, to use Milton's words, - "left I' th' midst a horrid vale."
The Rabbit Island, which lies in the entrance of Tongue bay, abounds in rabbits. It was formerly called Ealan a Ghail, from a combat (tradition says) fought upon it, between one Gaul and Torquil, in which Gaul obtained the victory; though it is as likely it was called Ealan nan Gaeil, the Island of Strangers, from the Danes having landed upon it **.
Fish:
Ling, cod, haddocks, and skate, are caught on this coast, from May till February, and are mostly used by the country people. They are most in season in November, December, and January. Porpoises and otters frequent the coast, and seals in great number. The bay of Tongue abounds with shell fish of various kinds. In the years 1782 and 1783, numbers of poor people, from all parts of the country, had scarcely any other substance, but the cockles and mussels they gathered in this bay. The cockles are in season in the summer, and the mussels during in the winter months. Loch Laoghal and the Torrisdale, produce fine trouts, eels, and salmon. The Char (tar deargan) appear in shoals in October, and are caught with nets only. There is a salmon fishing on the Torrisdale.
**Drum na Coup is famous in this country, for a battle fought there between the MacKays and the Sutherlands, in which the MacKays obtained a complete, though mournful victory; for their aged chieftain was accidentally slain by Jomhar Macmhathan, a poltroon, who had been spurred on, by the contemptuous carriage of his wife, to engage in the contest of heroes. Till he agreed to fight, she fed him with pottage, a dish which no person of spirit in this country will deign to taste, as it has been reckoned, since Macmhathan's time, beadh fir as diaigh feach. i.e. the food of cowards. It must not be omitted, that Matheson's head was fixed on a pole, at a place called, from the circumstances, Cnocan an Ceann, the Hillock of the head.
Contact Iain on E-Mail @
Email Iain
Copyright and Design © Iain Morrison 2005 - 2006 - All Rights Reserved.
