There are stone-quarries in some parts of the two countiee, but their products are comparatively unimportant Limestone is wrought, but there is no coal. The herring-fishery is carried on along the eastern shore, and the salmon-fishery in the rivers and mstuaries of the coast.
Divisions, Towns, ('c.—The two counties are divided into 33 parishes, two of which extend into the adjacent counties. The parishes are within the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the synod of Rosa. There are four royal burghs, namely, CROMARTY, FORTROSE, Dingwall, and Taira; and one burgh of barony, Stornoway, in Lewis.
Dingwall, a royal burgh and market-town, and the county town of the united counties, lies at the south-western extremity of Crornarty Frith, 23 miles N.W. from Inverness by a circuitous road, and 166 miles N.W. from Edinburgh. The population of the burgh in 1851 was 1990. The town is governed by a provost and 14 councillors, two of whom are bellies, and unites with Cromarty, Dornoch, Kirkwall, Taiu, and Wick iu the return of one member to Parliament. Dingwall was made a royal burgh by Alexander II. in 1227. Some traces remain of the ancient castle of the earls of Rose. The church is a commodious building ; near it is a pyramidal obelisk 57 feet high and 6 feet square at the base, erected on a large artificial mound by a former earl of Cromarty to mark out the burial-place of himself and his family. The town-house, a curious old building with a spire, is near the centre of the town; and there are besides, a Free church, an Episcopal chapel, and a small jaiL A short canal from the frith enables vessels to conic quite up to the town.
Taira, a royal burgh and market-town, lies on the southern shore of Dornoch Frith, 47 miles N. from Inverness by the road. The population of the burgh in 1851 was 2049. The burgh is governed by a provost and 14 councillors, two of whom are bailiea; and unites with Cromarty, Dornoch, Dingwall, Kirkwall, and Wick iu the return of one member to Parliament. Taira had its earliest charter from James VI. It was early celebrated for a chapel of St. Duthse, bishop of Ross, which had right of eanotuary. The towu is irregularly built, but the streets have been improved of late years, and new and handsome houses erected. There arc a large pariah church, a Free church, and a chapel for United Presbyterians ; a handsome academy, erected by subscription iu 1813 ; a parochial and a burgh school; a reading- and news-room ; a good town-house ; and a prison.
The ruins of St. Duthac's chapel, east of the town, are of granite, and are remarkable for the strength and simplicity of their architecture.
A church, also dedicated to St. Duthac, aud now deserted, stands in the centre of the town. Tho ruins of an old prison tower with five spires are iu the town. There are an iron-foundry, a carding-mill, and a dye-work. Salmon-fishing is carried on in the frith.
Stornoway, a burgh of barony and sea-port, and the only town in Lewis, is situated at the head of a bay on the east side of the island, in 58' 13' N. 1st, 6° 20' W. long. The population of the town in 1841 was 1354; in 1351 it was 2391. Stornoway was founded by James I. for the purpose of introducing civilisation into the Highlands. The houses are good, with slate roofs. There are a custom-house, a court house, a jail, a branch bank, and an assembly-room. In addition to the Established church, there are a Free church and an Episcopal chapel. The town is lighted with gas. The principal employment of the inhabitants is fishing. Agriculture has considerably improved of late years. The harbour is good and well sheltered, and is capable of containing 300 vessels of any tonnage. Those belonging to the port are 56 in number, with a tonnage of 2603. During 1853 there entered the port 119 sailing-vessels, tonnage 5463, and 83 steam-vessels, tonnage 15,364 ; and there cleared 60 sailing-vessels, tonnage 2508, and 89 s'eam.vessela, tonnage 16,063. Attached to the harbour is a patent slip. There are several schools and a circulating library. On an eminence overlooking the town is a splendid mansion, in the castel lated style, lately erected by Sir J. Matheson, the proprietor of the island.
/nrergordon, population about 1100, about 14 miles N. by E. from Dingwall, is a small sea-port, from which cattle are sent to London. Considerable quantities of grain are also shipped at the port. The steam-vessels plying between Inverness and Leith and Inverness and London call regularly at Invergordon. Boat-building is carried on. Nigg, population of the parish 1457 in 1851, on the north side of the entrance to Cromarty Frith, opposite Cromarty town, possesses a parish church, a Free church, and a chapel for United Presbyterians, in all of which service is conducted regularly or occasionally In Gaelic. Many of the population are engaged in fishing. Two ancient monu mental stones are at Nigg and at Shandwick, in the parish. Strathprifer, a village which has recently arisen in connection with a mineral spa in the valley of Strathpeffer, a short distance W. from Dingwall. Visitors resort to the place from May to October for the purpose of drinking the mineral-waters. Near the spa is a fine ancient mansion, formerly the seat of the earls of Cromarty.