The principal islets on the coast of Lewis are, Loch Bernera, Loch Roig, and Loch Resort on the west side; Loch Tua, Loch Luerboat, Loch Shell, and Loch Seaforth ou the east side. Lochs Bernera and Roig are broaches of one inlet, 9 miles across at the entrance, and extending 9 miles inland : iu the middle of it is the island of Bernem (5 miles long from east to west, and 3 miles wide), and a number of smaller islands. The headlands of Lewis are, the Butt of Lewis ; Tiorupan Head, at the extremity of the peninsula which forms the east side of Loch Tua ; and Callan Head, at the south aide of Loch Roig. Lewis is mountainous; the peaks form a range extending north and south, with lateral branches. The Barvas ucar tho centre of the island, are 7S0 feet high; and Suaneval, ou the western side, between Loeh Rolg and Loch Resort, 2700 feet.
IlydrograpAy and Communications.—There are no large rivers. The Oikel rises at the foot of Beu 3lohr in Sutherlandshire, and flows 26 miles along the border of the county till it unites with a stream from Loch Shin in Sutherlandshire. It then expands into a narrow lake flee miles long, called the Kyle, which opens into Doruoch Frith. The Itereth Water and Carron Water are one stream 24 miles long, which joins the Kyle at its lower end. Loch Monar, five miles long hy one mile broad, is drained by a stream which belongs to Inverness thin. Loch Glass, five mine long, and many other lakes, most of them very small, are drained by streams flowing into the friths of the eastern coast. Loch Margie, the largest freshwater lake in the counties, extending 12 miles in length, and 2 miles or 2i miles across in the broadest part, Is drained by the Ewe, which flows into Loch Ewe. Lewis abounds in lakes; but they are all small, except Loch Langavat, which extends hs length nearly 10 miles from north to south, between Loch Scafortb and Loch Resort.
The two counties have very few roads. The greater part of them, including those of chief Importance, are on the east side, and lead to different plans farther north. One leads near the coast from lover uses, by k ortroae, Cromarty, and Tain, to Dornoch,Wick, and Thurso, the counnimleatien being made In several places by ferries over the lochs and friths. Another road from Inverness to Wick and Thurso tuns more Inland, passing round the heads of Loch Beauly and the Frith of Cromarty, and through the town of Dingwall, which is at the head of Crornarty Frith : it crosses into SutherIandshhs by Boner Bridge, which is thrown over the Kyle at the head of Dornoch Frith. There are several roads communicating between these two. A road from Dingwall leads across the county through Strathbran to Loch Carron, a distance of 49 miles, sending off various branches. The
road from Inverness to the Isle of Skye, with a branch to Loch Alali and Loch Carron, runs through Rhiabuie and Glen Shiel, in the southern parts of the county of Ross; and that from Doruoch and the east coast to Loch Aesynt just passes through the northern part of the same county.
Soil and Agriculture.—The arable land of the two counties is almost entirely confined to the eastern part, comprehending the two penin sulas—the Black Isle, between Loch Beauly and Cromarty Frith; and Easter Ross, between the Crornarty and Dornoch friths, together with the comparatively low and level tract immediately adjacent to these. The central and western parts are rugged and mouutaiuous, inter spersed with lakes and narrow glens that afford pasture for sheep and black cattle. Withiu the last half century great improvements have been made in the system of agriculture. Besidee the grain con sumed iu the counties, a large quantity is annually exported to London, Leith, Liverpool, &c.; and a large portion is used in the manufacture of whisky, there being several extensive distilleries.
The soil iu Black Isle is various, and much of it poor. The culti vated portion consists chiefly of clayey loam, good black mould, and sandy loam. In Easter Rosa there is a considerable extent of clayey loam and light sandy soil. Around Dingwall the soil is clayey. Turnips are grown equal in quality to those of more southeru counties. The crops are clean, and for the most part rich. The houses of the prin cipal farmers are commodious, and the cottages of the peasantry are in eeneral good.
Cheviot sheep, and the best breeds of cattle from the West High lands and from Ayrshire, have been introduced. Considerable attention has also beau paid to the breed of horses. The native breed of cattle is hardy and compact, adapted to the climate.
The western aide of the county, where it has not been thrown into large sheep farms, is occupied by a poor class of tenants. They have some arable land, in which potatoes, barley, aud oats are raised ; but the country generally is an open waste. The houses of the peasantry aro very poor; some are built of turf, others with stone, with or without mortar, and have a roof of turf with heather or fern above it. They have no chimneys; the fire of peat or turf being kindled against the wall, or ou a stone in the centre of the room, the smoke escapes as it can, by roof, door, or windows, which last have wooden shutters. Along the coast the peasantry are much engaged in the herring fishery.