While the examination was going on, the present Talisker, who was there as one of M’Leod’s militia, could not resist the pleasantry of asking Kingsburgh, in allusion to his only song, ‘Had she green sleeves?’ Kingsburgh gave him no answer.  Lady Margaret M’Donald was very angry at Talisker for joking on such a serious occasion, as Kingsburgh was really in danger of his life.  Mrs. M’Kinnon added that Lady Margaret was quite adored in Sky.  That when she travelled through the island, the people ran in crowds before her, and took the stones off the road, lest her horse should stumble and she be hurt[711].  Her husband, Sir Alexander, is also remembered with great regard.  We were told that every week a hogshead of claret was drunk at his table.

This was another day of wind and rain; but good cheer and good society helped to beguile the time.  I felt myself comfortable enough in the afternoon.  I then thought that my last night’s riot was no more than such a social excess as may happen without much moral blame; and recollected that some physicians maintained, that a fever produced by it was, upon the whole, good for health:  so different are our reflections on the same subject, at different periods; and such the excuses with which we palliate what we know to be wrong.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27.

Mr. Donald M’Leod, our original guide, who had parted from us at Dunvegan, joined us again to-day.  The weather was still so bad that we could not travel.  I found a closet here, with a good many books, beside those that were lying about.  Dr. Johnson told me, he found a library in his room at Talisker; and observed, that it was one of the remarkable things of Sky, that there were so many books in it.

Though we had here great abundance of provisions, it is remarkable that Corrichatachin has literally no garden:  not even a turnip, a carrot, or a cabbage.  After dinner, we talked of the crooked spade used in Sky, already described, and they maintained that it was better than the usual garden-spade, and that there was an art in tossing it, by which those who were accustomed to it could work very easily with it.  ’Nay, (said Dr. Johnson,) it may be useful in land where there are many stones to raise; but it certainly is not a good instrument for digging good land.  A man may toss it, to be sure; but he will toss a light spade much better:  its weight makes it an incumbrance.  A man may dig any land with it; but he has no occasion for such a weight in digging good land.  You may take a field piece to shoot sparrows; but all the sparrows you can bring home will not be worth the charge.’  He was quite social and easy amongst them; and, though he drank no fermented liquor, toasted Highland beauties with great readiness.  His conviviality engaged them so much, that they seemed eager to shew their attention to him, and vied with each other in crying out, with a strong Celtick pronunciation, ‘Toctor Shonson, Toctor Shonson, your health!’