ISLAY, an island (large), in the county of Argyll;
comprising the parishes of Kilchoman, Kildalton, and
Kilarrow; and containing 13,60'2 inhabitants. It is
variously called, by some Ila, Hay, and Isla, but more
commonly Islay; and according to some accounts is
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 Portaskaig
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 HI.; and when
their power was abolished, their descendants, the Macdonalds,
were the proprietors, holding directly of the
Crown. The property 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these and other clans, rescinded the grant made by his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
feu-duty, whereof the portion for this island was £500,
paid to this day. It now belongs to another family of
Campbell, a member of which was lately the representative
of the copnty.
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 Gruinard 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. A lead-mine was 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; these 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;
it has in front an extensive level lawn, and is surrounded
by plantations, the ground gently rising, and
being extremely well-wooded behind. Ardnave, near
Loch Gruinard, was either the birthplace or the paternal
residence of the lady of the celebrated 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 fine lighthouse,
of which the light, flashing every five seconds, is
seen at the distance of seventeen nautical miles. See
Kilchoman, Kildalton, and Kilarrow.