Thisisnotthedescriptionofacruelclimate，yetthedarkmonthsarehereatimeofgreatdistress；becausethesummercandolittlemorethanfeeditself，andwintercomeswithitscoldanditsscarcityuponfamiliesveryslenderlyprovided。
CORIATACHANINSKY
ThethirdorfourthdayafterourarrivalatArmidel，broughtusaninvitationtotheisleofRaasay，whichlieseastofSky。Itisincrediblehowsoontheaccountofanyeventispropagatedinthesenarrowcountriesbytheloveoftalk，whichmuchleisureproduces，andthereliefgiventothemindinthepenuryofinsularconversationbyanewtopick。Thearrivalofstrangersataplacesorarelyvisited，excitesrumour，andquickenscuriosity。Iknownotwhetherwetouchedatanycorner，whereFamehadnotalreadypreparedusareception。
TogainacommodiouspassagetoRaasay，itwasnecessarytopassoveralargepartofSky。Wewerefurnishedthereforewithhorsesandaguide。IntheIslandstherearenoroads，noranymarksbywhichastrangermayfindhisway。Thehorsemanhasalwaysathissideanativeoftheplace，who，bypursuinggame，ortendingcattle，orbeingoftenemployedinmessagesorconduct，haslearnedwheretheridgeofthehillhasbreadthsufficienttoallowahorseandhisriderapassage，andwherethemossorbogishardenoughtobearthem。Thebogsareavoidedastoilsomeatleast，ifnotunsafe，andthereforethejourneyismadegenerallyfromprecipicetoprecipice；fromwhichiftheeyeventurestolookdown，itseesbelowagloomycavity，whencetherushofwaterissometimesheard。
Butthereseemstobeinallthismorealarmthandanger。TheHighlanderwalkscarefullybefore，andthehorse，accustomedtotheground，followshimwithlittledeviation。Sometimesthehillistoosteepforthehorsemantokeephisseat，andsometimesthemossistootremuloustobearthedoubleweightofhorseandman。Theriderthendismounts，andallshiftastheycan。