Hebrides

Hebrides, The, a name given to all the islands on the west coast of Scotland. In the group was anciently included the Isle of Man; and the title "Sodor and Man" perpetuates the memory of the connection, "Sodorenses" (insulee) being a Latinised form of the Scandinavian name of the Hebrides, "Sudreyjar." The Hebrides are divided into two groups, the Outer Hebrides, the chief islands of which are Lewis, North and South Uist, Barra, and Benbecula; and the Inner Hebrides, composed of Skye, Mull, Jura, Islay, Rum, Coll, Tiree, Eigg, Iona, Ulva, Colonsay, and other smaller islands - in all making some five hundred. Bute and Arran are also generally reckoned among them. There is some land under cultivation, but a large part of the soil consists of poor pasture, morass, and peat-moss. Gaelic is spoken by the common people, who are usually very small farmers (" Crofters"). The climate is mild but damp. For political purposes the Hebrides are merged in the counties of Ross, Inverness, Argyll, and Bute. Among the descriptions of the islands is Dr. Johnson's Journey to the Hebrides.