UIGHUR, the name of a Turkish tribe and dynasty who came from the East and ruled in Kashgaria from the loth to the 12th century. They used a variety of the Syriac alphabet. (See TURKS.) UIST (oist), NORTH AND SOUTH, islands, outer Heb rides, Inverness-shire, Scotland. North Uist lies south-west of Harris (Long island), from which it is separated about 8 m. by the Sound of Harris. The island measures 13 m. in length by 17 m. in greatest width, but the coasts are extremely indented. The highest point is Mt. Eaval (1,138 ft.). The principal sea lochs are Loch Maddy and Loch Eport, both on the east. On the east coast the surface is mostly swampy moorland, but on the west there is some fertile soil. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in crofting, fishing and cattle-rearing. The principal village, Loch maddy, is a trade centre, and a favourite resort of anglers, being a regular calling station for the steamers from Glasgow and Kyle of Lochalsh. The islands belonging to the parish of North Uist (pop., 1931, 2,832) comprise—to the south-west Baleshare (pop., 1921, 134), Kirkibost, Heisker (66), the Monach group, with a lighthouse on Shillay; to south, Grimisay (315) and Ronay; to north-east, Levera; to the north, Boreray (63) and Vallay (43).
South Uist has a population in the parish (1930 of 4,236, an extreme length of 27 m., an extreme width of 7 m. Towards the north-east it is mountainous. The chief sea-lochs are Loch Boisdale, frequented by anglers, Loch Eynort and Loch Skiport on the east coast. On the east side the surface is mainly alluvial peat, broken by hills, but on the west there is a belt of productive land. Besides crofting, the inhabitants are engaged in the fish eries and cattle-raising. Steamers from Glasgow, Portree, Oban, etc., call regularly at the village of Lochboisdale, where there is a wireless station. The islands attached to the parish of South Uist include, to the south, Eriskay (pop. 427), where Prince Charles landed on Aug. 2, 1745; to the north-east, Wiay ; to the north, Grimsay; Flodday, just off the north-east shore of Ben becula; and Benbecula (pop. 1,116), with an area of 4o sq.m., from which there are low-tide fords to North Uist and South Uist.