At stated times
the annual growth of cattle is driven to a fair, by a general
drover, and with the money, which he returns to the farmer, the
rents are paid.
The price regularly expected, is from two to three pounds a head:
there was once one sold for five pounds. They go from the Islands
very lean, and are not offered to the butcher, till they have been
long fatted in English pastures.
Of their black cattle, some are without horns, called by the Scots
humble cows, as we call a bee an humble bee, that wants a sting.
Whether this difference be specifick, or accidental, though we
inquired with great diligence, we could not be informed. We are
not very sure that the bull is ever without horns, though we have
been told, that such bulls there are. What is produced by putting
a horned and unhorned male and female together, no man has ever
tried, that thought the result worthy of observation.
Their horses are, like their cows, of a moderate size. I had no
difficulty to mount myself commodiously by the favour of the
gentlemen. I heard of very little cows in Barra, and very little
horses in Rum, where perhaps no care is taken to prevent that
diminution of size, which must always happen, where the greater and
the less copulate promiscuously, and the young animal is restrained
from growth by penury of sustenance.
