PORTREE, a parish, in the county of Inverness; including the islands of Fladda, Rasay, and Rona; and containing 35*4 inhabitants, of whom 510 are in the village of Portree, 21 miles (E.) from Dunvegan, '25 miles (N. W.) from Broadford, 80 (N. by E.) from Tobermory, 109 (VV. by S.) from Inverness, and 110 (N. by W.) from Oban. This place was formerly called CeiUtarraglan, a compound Gaelic term which signifies " a burying-ground at the bottom of a glen ", and which was particularly appropriate; but after the visit of King James V. to the northern portion of his dominions, and his putting into the bay here, where he remained for some time, the name was changed to Portree, that is. Port Toi or righ, "the king's harbour." The parish consists of the portion properly called Portree, in the Isle of Skye; and of the islands of Rasay, Rona, and others of small extent, separated from the main body by a branch of the Atlantic Ocean, called Rasay sound. It measures seventeen miles in length and twelve in breadth, and is principally a pastoral district, the quantity of land under tillage being very small in comparison with the part uncultivated. On the east is an arm of the sea dividing Rasay from the parishes of Gairloch and Applecross. The long line of coast exhibits great diversity of appearance: its lofty and almost perpendicular rocks are succeeded in some places, especially at the heads of the lochs, by sudden depressions sinking almost to the level of the beach; and the shores are intersected by numerous breaks and fissures. Among the bays are those of Loch Inord, Loch Sligichan, Camistinavaig, and several small bays in the island of Rasay; but that of Portree is by far the most considerable: it is capable of containing several hundred sail, shelter on all sides being afforded by very high lands, and its tenacious clayey bottom supplying excellent anchorage. The Rasay branch of the Atlantic, which washes the parish throughout its whole length, is sufficiently deep for the passage of a first-rate ship of war. It receives a large influx of fresh water from the hills on each side, bringing down earthy deposits, which, from the rapidity of the currents in its firths, render it turbid in wintry or stormy weather; but in the tranquillity of summer it is beautifully clear. In the INTERIOR the surface is varied with hills, valleys, and plains, interspersed with innumerable springs of the purest water, several lakes and rivulets, and some highly ornamental cascades, which together render the scenery deeply interesting. The district is circumscribed by a most circuitous and irregular outline, approaching in its general form to an oblong; and is traversed from north to south by a glen, skirted on each side by a range of hills greatly differing in height and dimensions. The most striking elevation is that called Aite Suidhe Fhin, " the sitting-place of Fingal", where that celebrated hero is traditionally reported to have sat to direct his followers in the chase, and which, rising gradually from the head of Loch Portree, reaches 2000 feet above the level of the sea. Near this, on the east side of the harbour, and of almost equal height with the former, rises the hill of Peindinavaig, or " the hill of protection "; while much to the south are the hill of Beinligh and that of Glamaig, with the loch of Sligichan between them. The latter eminence is crowned with a verdant tract, and has a spring sending forth an immense quantity of clear water. Indeed, all the elevations, except a few, are covered to their summits with excellent pasture for sheep and cattle, and are well watered with springs and rivulets. There are six fresh-water lochs, or lakes, most of which abound in good trout; and though of no great extent, the largest not being above a mile long, they exhibit much picturesque and beautiful scenery. From their vicinity may be seen the hills of Cullins, in the parish of Bracadale, and of Store, in the parish of Snizort. A lake in Rasay, in favourable weather, affords a very fine prospect of all the hills in the district, to the point of Hunish, with the expanse of sea to the island of Lewis. The climate is most variable, many descriptions of weather being frequently experienced within the space of a day and night; and diseases arising from the sudden changes of temperature are often prevalent. Between the hills the soil is to a great extent peatmoss, whence the inhabitants are amply supplied with their ordinary fuel; but the soil most general is a gravelly earth, abounding in springs. These render the land raw and unproductive; and in addition to the natural sterility of the soil, to the poverty of the inhabitants, and their necessarily imperfect system of husbandry, the vicissitude of the weather, both in seed-time and in harvest, causes great uncertainty and risk. The mainland part of the parish belongs to Lord Macdonald; and the island of Rasay, with its subordinate isles, to G. Rainy, Esq., who purchased it in 1845. The then proprietor of Portree, about the year 1811, for the accommodation of the rapidly increasing population, caused all the farms held by small tenants to be subdivided into allotments or crofts. This tended still further to increase the number of persons located here; and the inhabitants now far exceed the productive capabilities of the soil: the tenants are thus placed upon the lowest possible scale with respect to the comforts of life, and the land is kept far below the average state of that in neighbouring districts. The crooked spade is used, and is well suited to the peculiar character of the surface, the arable portion frequently hanging on steeps and precipices, and being set with rocks or large stones: after the seed is sown the hollows and inequalities are neatly raked over, and smoothed with a hand-harrow. Even were the tenants competent to the undertaking, the land is incapable of successful drainage, as its springs would soon cause it to revert to its original spongy nature. The crofters live in huts of the meanest description, and are often without proper food and clothing; a state of depression in no way attributable to any indisposition to promote improvements, but arising from circumstances which they are unable to control. Their sobriety and general character are spoken of in the highest terms; and the proprietor has expended considerable sums of money in sending part of the population to the British colonies in North America. A large tract in the parish is undivided common, consisting of hill pasture which is covered in the summer months with cattle. The cattle are small but hardy, and mostly out of shelter for the whole year. They are supported in the winter on straw; but after feeding at the return of spring on the pasture, which is chiefly mossgrass, they acquire strength and flesh. They are sold to the south-country dealers in large numbers, to be fattened for the markets of England, where they are much esteemed, and fetch a high price. The sheep are a cross between the native stock and the black-faced of the south j and the horses, though very small, are hardy. The breeds of both cattle and sheep are much attended to; and great improvements have taken place in consequence of the stimulus given by the premiums of the Highland and local agricultural societies. Coal was wrought about the beginning of the present century bythe then Lord Macdonald; but after a regular system of operations had been for some time carried on by experienced colliers from the south, the quantity raised was found insufficient to remunerate the proprietor for the great expense incurred, and the ^Tork was abandoned. Excellent granite is found in several places, particularly inRasay; and being of very hard texture, it is formed into millstones for grinding oats and barley, which are sold at from £9 to £12 a pair, and supply all the mills in the Isle of Skye. Limestone is abundant; and at Portree, on both sides of the harbour, freestone is found in very large quantities in the lofty rocks, which are nearly perpendicular. Stone of the same species, but of far superior quality, is obtained in great plenty in Rasay; and some of it was used a few years since, in building the elegant mansion of the proprietor of that island, the only gentleman's seat in the parish. Near this residence are some fine old trees; the other wood in the parish is plantation of Scotch fir, larch, birch, ash, and oak, of recent formation, and situated principally in the island of Rasay and the village of Portree. The village contains several good houses and shops, and a branch establishment of the National Bank of Scotland. The sheriff-substitute of the district of Skye holds his courts in the court-room of the gaol here, as the superintendent of the judicial affairs of the place; and there is a post-office having a delivery of letters three times a week. A good road has been formed through the whole length of the parish, under the direction of the parliamentary commissioners for making roads in the Highlands and islands; and Glasgow steamboats come regularly into the harbour, by which means the cattle and other produce are sent to the southern markets. Salmon also, the fishing of which belongs to a small company from the south, is cured in the village, and forwarded to the ports of Glasgow and London. Three fairs are held, respectively in May, July, and November, the two former for the sale of black-cattle, and the latter for the hiring of servants and for other business. The annual value of real property in the parish is £3195. It is ecclesiastically in the presbytery of Skye, synod of Glenelg, and in the patronage of the Crown: the minister's stipend is £150, of which about one-half is received from the exchequer; with a manse, and a glebe, consisting principally of moss and hill pasture, and valued at £11 per annum. The church was built about the year 18'i0, and will accommodate 800 persons with sittings: it is situated in the village, but on account of its distance from the southern boundary it is inconvenient for a considerable portion of the j)opulation. A missionary is stationed in the parish, on the establishment of the Committee of the General Assembly, and receives a salary from the bounty allowed by the crown for the benefit of the Highlands. The parochial school, situated in the village, aifords instruction in Latin, Greek, geography, book-keeping, and the elementary branches; the master has a salary of £34.4., with a house, an allowance for a garden, and £5 fees. There is a branch parochial school in Rasay, in which the elementary branches are taught; also two Gaelic schools in the parish.