Page:Scotish Descriptive Poems - Leyden (1803).djvu/203

 P. 169. v. 280281 [sic]. Scianacha, the Gaelic name of Sky, signifies the winged, an epithet supposed to have been derived from the name of its two northern promontories.

P. 169. v. 284. The islanders of Hirta are represented, in the historical collection 1597, as "rude in all kinde of craft, and most rude in religion." The Taish, or Second-sight, prevailed more in this island than in any part of the highlands or isles; and the seers were remarkable for seeing their own wraiths, or ominous spectres. Hirtha, or Hirta, according to Lesley, receives its appellation from Hirth, a species of sheep only found in that island, which exceeded the goat in height, and the horns of which exceeded those of the ox in length, while they equalled them in size. Martin says, it signifies the Western Isle, and is similar in import to Ierne or Erin.

P. 169. v. 286. Jura's double hill, is the mountainous double range near the centre of the island, which terminates in two peaks, termed The Paps of Jura, which, according to Martin, are very conspicuous from all quarters of sea and land in those parts.

P. 169. v. 287. Mull is described in the historical collection 1597, as unpleasant indeed, but not unfruitful.

P. 169. v. 288. Isla was the residence of the kings, and afterwards of the lords of The Isles, which in Gaelic are denominated Inch Gall, by a general appellation.