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which divides Caithnefs from Sutherland, paffes through this parish. This road, when it comes within a mile of the minister's house, divides itself into two roads, the one paffing along the fea-fide to Wick, and the other crofling the country by the Caufaymire towards Thurfo.

Surface, Hills, Sea Coaft, Soil, &c.-The appearance of the parish is diversified, partly flat and partly hilly, or mountainous. The coaft is bold and rocky, rifing perpendicular, in many parts 100 yards and upwards, above the level of the fea. There are immenfe tracts of mofs and muir ground.There are three large hills or mountains (befides many fmaller ones), Morvine, Scarabine, and Maiden-Pap. The top of Morvine is fuppofed to be more than a mile above the level of the fea. With a clear fky, one will fee from it a partof 10 or 12 different fhires. There is a fine fpring near the top of it. The coaft is interfected by several straths, on waters running from the hilly part of the parish towards the fea. The ftraths are furrounded with hills or high lands, which are covered with heath or pafture, interfperfed with a little brufhwood. The foil in general is fharp, in fome parts a strong rich clay, in others inclining to grit, or gravel, but in most parts interspersed with maffes of detached rocks, and loofe ftones, the naked rock appearing often in the arable lands. The cultivated lands are generally fhallow, yet productive of pretty heavy crops. What is not cultivated has in general a poor appearance, excepting the pasture and woodlands in the different ftraths.

Climate, Difeafes, and Longevity.-The climate in general is dry and healthy.-The most prevalent difeafes are fevers, fluxes, and rheumatifms. Fluxes were very prevalent among the common people in 1782 and 1783, owing, it is fuppofed,

to

to the unfavourable feafons, and the corns being damaged. Why rheumatisms are much more frequent among the country people now than formerly, no other caufes can be affigned, than the immoderate ufe of fpirituous liquors, and that they now wear linen next their skin, instead of a coarse kind of woollen stuff of their own making, which they formerly ufed to wear. Severals have died lately about 90 years of age; one man in particular, HENRY CHRISTIAN in Lybfter, died in 1786, who could not be less than from 110 to 120 years of age, by his own account. He was confidered as an old man in the infancy of the oldeft people alive in his neighbourhood.

Mineral Springs, Rivers, Lakes, &c.-There are many fprings in the parish flightly impregnated with iron, though none of any great importance.-There are three small rivers, Dunbeath, Langwall, and Berrindale. The two laft join within 100 yards of the fea. In these rivers are caught falmon and trouts. There are two small lakes, Ranga and Stempfer, where trouts and eels are found. In the fide of the former, there are the ruins of a fmall fortification, and contiguous to the latter, the remains of a Druidical temple, and the arch-druid's house.

Filberies.-There are no fewer than 20 different fpecies of fish caught on this coaft. Befides the various kinds of fish confumed by the inhabitants, fuch as turbot, skate, haddocks, whitings, cuddings, fellags, dog-fifh, mackerels, flounders, &c. there are three fishings carried on for exportation, the cod and ling, the herring, and the lobster. The cod fishing has been carried on for many years. The stations are Dunbeath, Toife, and Clyth. The herring fishing was only attempted within these four years, and promises to be fuccefs

ful.

ful. The ftations are Dunbeath and Clyth. It is commonly about the beginning or middle of July, before they appear in fuch fhoals as to induce the fishermen to shoot their nets. This fishing continues to the beginning, or even the middle of September. The lobster fishing only commenced last spring, (1793), and fuch numbers do they catch, that many of them die before the fmacks take them away, the chefts being fo full. The ftations are Dunbeath and Lybfter. Two English companies have fent boats and crews to fish this season. The inhabitants propofe to carry on the lobster fishing against next season. These companies have a concern in the cod and herring fisheries. There are from 40 to 50 boats of different fizes in the parish.

Propofed Harbours, &c.-In order to improve the fisheries on this coaft, nothing would be of greater importance than having two or three good harbours. Dunbeath and Lybster feem to be the places best calculated for this purpose. Something might also be done at Clyth and Berrindale, at a moderate expence. It would likewise be of advantage to get fome fishermen to fettle from other parts, and to have the prefent fishers confined to a house and garden, inftead of labouring fmall tacks, as they do at prefent, which makes the fishing but a fecondary confideration with them.

Population. As the records have not been regularly kept, the antient ftate of the population cannot be precisely afcertained. This much, however, is pretty certain, that there are nearly double the number of inhabitants now, that there were about 70 years ago, when Mr Andrew Sutherland, the then incumbent, obtained an augmentation to his living.

POPULA

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Ditto in 1755, as returned to Dr Webster 3675

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* The number of deaths cannot be afcertained, as there are 8 different burial places in the parish.

+ Moft of the tradesmen have small tacks of land, in the cultivation of which a good deal of their time is taken up.

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Church. The present incumbent was fettled in September 1775. The ftipend has been lately augmented, and now amounts to 1000 merks Scotch, befides 60 l. Scotch for communion elements, and 6 chalders of victual, half meal half bear. There is alfo a glebe confifting of 6 acres arable ground, and fome grafs. Both church and manfe were built about 60 years ago. They were repaired foon after the prefent incumbent's admiffion. They are at present undergoing a trifling reparation.- Mifs Scot of Scotftarvet is patron. There is a miffionary at prefent employed, between the extremities of this parish and the parish of Halkirk, who is principally fupported by the people who have the benefit of hearing him.-Excepting the few families above mentioned, all the inhabitants belong to the established church.

Schools.-There is a parochial school. The mafter's falary is 100 merks Scotch, with 20 1. Scotch for officiating as feffion clerk and precentor. He has alfo 6 d. for every baptifm, 6 d. for each certificate, and 1 s. 7 d. each for marriages. -There are 2 fchools established here by the Society for Propagating Chriftian Knowledge. There are 3 or 4 other schools in diftant parts of the parish, supported by the inhabitants.

Poor. The number of perfons commonly on the poor's roll is from 70 to 80.-The only funds are the Sunday collections, and the fines paid by delinquents; the former is very trifling, being scarcely 3 1. Sterling. The confequence is,

that

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