Volume 3 - Electric Scotland

"^^ SOUTH IJIST.
minutes it became so dark that I could no longer see my
way. How I reached the sea shore, I know not, and you
do not care; nor, now, need I.
Loch Ski port is even more absurd than Loch Bois-
dale; being a mere labyrinth of islands, promontories,
and water. It penetrates through to the west; chang-
ing its name to Loch Gamoslechan, so as to cut off a por-
tion of South Uist from the remainder. Here there is
almost a community of character and geography between
South Uist and its next neighbour Benbecula ; as they
are only separated by a sandy bar over which a man may
wade at low water, and as the smaller islands that skirt
both are so intermixed, that it is doubtful if the two prin-
cipal ones could ascertain their mutual boundaries and
rights. This would form a glorious subject for a contest,
whether of states or estates: for a suit in decisive gun-
powder or interminable parchment. Fortunately, un-
fortunately for the lawyers, the whole confusion belongs
alike to Clanranald. No one could wish for a fairer op-
portunity of tormenting his heirs and successors: but
our friend is not a spirit of this cast.
Except a small half-ruined tower at the entrance of
Loch Boisdale, I saw no antiquities in this island. In
Martin's time it contained two churches and five chapels,
but the people were then nearly all Catholics. Dean Monro
gives a different enumeration of these. There are some
of this persuasion here still; and this island indeed, to-
gether with Barra and Benbecula, may be considered as
forming one of the chief divisions in the Highlands which
still preserve the remains of the ancient worship. Canna
and Egg, including a few individuals also in Muck and
Rum, form the other principal seat of the Roman Catho-
lics in the islands. The appointments of the Priests are
very scanty : but they are remarked for their good con-