Islay

   ISLAY, a large island, in the county of Argyll; comprising the parishes of Kilchoman, Kildalton, and Kilarrow; and containing 13,602 inhabitants. It is variously called, by some Ila, Ilay, and Isla, but more commonly Islay; and is, according to some accounts, twenty-eight miles in length and eighteen in breadth, while others make its length twenty-five miles and its breadth twenty-two. The island is separated from Jura by a narrow sound, over which is a ferry from Portas-kaig to Feoline on the opposite shore. Islay was once a part of the kingdom of the lords of the Isles, who were crowned here by the bishops of Argyll, upon a large stone, which is still pointed out; and numerous ruins and memorials of antiquity, consisting of castles, forts, and chapels, are to be found in almost every direction, attesting the former importance of the isle. It continued under the lords until the reign of James III.; and when their power was abolished, their descendants, the Macdonalds, were the proprietors, holding directly of the Crown. It afterwards passed, by the fortune of war, to the Macleans; but James VI., irritated at the disturbances raised by the private wars waged between these and other clans, rescinded the grant made by his predecessor, and transferred the lands of Islay, Jura, and Muckairn, to Sir John Campbell, of Cawdor, ancestor of the earls Cawdor, in consideration of an annual feuduty, whereof the portion for this island was £500, paid to this day. It is now the property of another family of the same name, a member of whom was lately the representative of the county.

   Islay is in general mountainous, especially towards the north, but there is much low, level, and cultivated land; the coast is indented by bays and points, and the shores are for the most part rugged. The inlets of Loch Indal and Loch Grunard nearly insulate a considerable part of the district of Kilchoman; and besides several inland lakes, there are numerous streams and rivulets, in some of which are salmon and trout: the whole coast, also, abounds with fish. Lead-mines were at one time very successfully wrought, to the north-west of Portaskaig; and a copper-mine, likewise, was long in operation; but as the ore was mixed with lead, and the separation was troublesome, both mines were at length abandoned. The facilities for the improvement of the land are very great, and more than one-half of the surface could be brought into regular tillage. The island boasts of the breed and number of its cattle and horses; but whisky, for which it is also celebrated, is the great staple commodity, producing annually to government a revenue of more than £30,000: two-thirds of the grain used in the distillation are raised on the isle. Bowmore is the principal village; it is situated on the banks of Loch Indal, at the extremity of the bay, and is a neat and improving modern village, consisting of regularly-formed streets, which intersect each other at right angles, and the houses are in general well built. It has an excellent harbour, with a fine quay, and there is good anchorage for vessels drawing ten feet of water. The village is the seat of the presbytery of Islay and Jura.

   See Bowmore. There are a few handsome seats: Islay House stands at the head of Loch Indal, having in front an extensive level lawn, and is surrounded by plantations, the ground gently rising, and being extremely well-wooded behind. Ardnave, near Loch Grunard, was either the birthplace or the paternal residence of the lady of Prince Polignac, involved in the fate of Charles X. of France, and for years a state prisoner in the fortress of Ham. On the islet of Oversay, opposite to Portnahaven, is a very fine light-house, of which the light, flashing every five seconds, is seen at the distance of seventeen nautical miles.

   See Kilchoman, Kildalton, and Killarrow.