If It Were Always Practicable To Fish, These Islands Could Never Be
In Much Danger From Famine; But Unhappily In The Winter, When Other
Provision Fails, The Seas Are Commonly Too Rough For Nets, Or
Boats.
TALISKER IN SKY
From Ulinish, our next stage was to Talisker, the house of colonel
Macleod, an officer in the Dutch service, who, in this time of
universal peace, has for several years been permitted to be absent
from his regiment. Having been bred to physick, he is consequently
a scholar, and his lady, by accompanying him in his different
places of residence, is become skilful in several languages.
Talisker is the place beyond all that I have seen, from which the
gay and the jovial seem utterly excluded; and where the hermit
might expect to grow old in meditation, without possibility of
disturbance or interruption. It is situated very near the sea, but
upon a coast where no vessel lands but when it is driven by a
tempest on the rocks. Towards the land are lofty hills streaming
with water-falls. The garden is sheltered by firs or pines, which
grow there so prosperously, that some, which the present inhabitant
planted, are very high and thick.
At this place we very happily met Mr. Donald Maclean, a young
gentleman, the eldest son of the Laird of Col, heir to a very great
extent of land, and so desirous of improving his inheritance, that
he spent a considerable time among the farmers of Hertfordshire,
and Hampshire, to learn their practice.
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