Volume 3 - Electric Scotland

I OOI) OF T!!E S1ICIIL.\M)S. 341
deserves, there is nothing- to prevent them from raising-
more potatoes for these purposes. I may admit, that
there are places where they have neither land nor manure
for that purpose ; but these are rare. In general, they
may increase their potatoes by increasing- their industry,
by taking more land from their wastes. They raise now
precisely what they intend to eat ; because there is no
sale, and as it is held useless to raise more, of an article
that is perishable. But the superfluity, which would cost
nothing but the labour, would be refunded with some
interest by the pigs and the chickens; and as to the g-eese,
they can manage their own diet. They feed with great
facility in a country of this nature ; while on the sea
shores also, in particular, the rearing of a pig-, up to the
period of his fattening at least, requires neither food nor
attention. If the people did not even choose to eat these
animals, there are few situations where they might not
find a market for them, and thus add to their comforts
in one way, if not in another. But I am desirous that a
Highlander should have a better dinner occasionally
than he now possesses, if he cannot get that every day;
and if thus writing were likely to procure it to him, I
would even run the risk of wearying you still further,
and of wearing out another pen.
But these are projects and speculations; and though
time will see them executed, I shall not. The established
and accessible animal food of the country, is fish ;
at least»
on the sea-shores. But though the facility of taking fish
is generally very great all along the coasts of the maritime
Highlands, and that there are very few cottages without
a share, at least, in a boat, the taking and consumption of
fish (putting fishing for sale now out of the question) is
far less than a traveller would expect. It will disap-
point, in particular, those who are familiar with those
English sea-coasts where this branch of industry is pur-