This Island Well Deserved To Be Seen,
But The Laird's Absence Left Us No Opportunity.
Every inhabited island has its appendant and subordinate islets.
Muck, however small, has yet others smaller about it, one of which
has only ground sufficient to afford pasture for three wethers.
At Dunvegan I had tasted lotus, and was in danger of forgetting
that I was ever to depart, till Mr. Boswell sagely reproached me
with my sluggishness and softness. I had no very forcible defence
to make; and we agreed to pursue our journey. Macleod accompanied
us to Ulinish, where we were entertained by the sheriff of the
Island.
ULINISH
Mr. Macqueen travelled with us, and directed our attention to all
that was worthy of observation. With him we went to see an ancient
building, called a dun or borough. It was a circular inclosure,
about forty-two feet in diameter, walled round with loose stones,
perhaps to the height of nine feet. The walls were very thick,
diminishing a little toward the top, and though in these countries,
stone is not brought far, must have been raised with much labour.
Within the great circle were several smaller rounds of wall, which
formed distinct apartments. Its date, and its use are unknown.
Some suppose it the original seat of the chiefs of the Macleods.
Mr. Macqueen thought it a Danish fort.
The entrance is covered with flat stones, and is narrow, because it
was necessary that the stones which lie over it, should reach from
one wall to the other; yet, strait as the passage is, they seem
heavier than could have been placed where they now lie, by the
naked strength of as many men as might stand about them.
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