COLONSAY-AND-ORONSIY, islands (two), in the
parish of Jura, district of Islay, county of Argyll,
15 miles (N. N. W.) from Portaskaig; containing about
840 inhabitants. These islands, which are situated in
the Atlantic Ocean, about twenty miles to the west of
the isle of Jura, are supposed to have derived their
names from St. Columba and St. Oran, respectively. The
former saint is said to have founded a monastery for
Culdees, prior to his settlement at lona; and a priory
of canons regular was founded by one of the Lords
of the Isles, as a cell to the abbey of Holyrood. The
islands are separated from each other only by a firth, in
some parts scarcely a hundred yards wide, and which,
being dry at the reflux of the tide, gives them the appearance
of one continuous island. Together they are
about twelve miles in length, varying from one mile
to nearly four miles in breadth, and comprising about
11,300 acres, of which one-third is arable and meadow,
and the remainder hill pasture, moorland, and moss.
The soil is various, and has been much improved by the
proprietor, who has also reclaimed considerable tracts of
unprofitable heath and moor, and introduced the best
system of husbandry. The chief crops are potatoes and
barley, of which large quantities are sent to Islay for
the distilleries, and to Ireland. Great numbers of blackcattle
and sheep are reared on the pastures, and from
the attention paid to the improvement of the breed, they
obtain a high price in the markets of Doune and Dumbarton,
to which they are mostly sent. The plantations
consist principally of elm, ash, sycamore, and alder.
The house of Killoran, situated in Colonsay, was built
in 1722, on the site of the ancient Culdee establishment;
it is a spacious mansion, to which two wings have since
been added. At Oronsay a handsome residence was
built in 1772.
There is no village. Kelp is still manufactured here,
affording employment to about 100 persons during the
summer, and the produce being sent to Liverpool. There
are several fishing-stations on the coast, but they are so
exposed to the swell of the Atlantic that comparatively
little benefit is derived from them; the fish taken are
cod, haddock, ling, skate, turbot, flounders, eels, and
lobsters of large size and excellent quality. The harbour
of Portnafeamin affords secure shelter, and a substantial
quay has been erected by the proprietor, near which is
a good inn. There is« church, built by the heritors in
1802, a neat structure containing 400 sittings. The
minister, who is appoimed by the incumbent of Jura,
has a stipend of £50, and a house and garden, with some
land given by the proprietor of Colonsay. A parochial
school for teaching English and Gaelic exists here; the
master has a salary of £1 1. 2., with £1. 10. fees. There
is also a school upon the establishment of the Society
for Propagating Christian Knowledge; the teacher receives
a salary of £15, and £3 fees, with accommodation
from the proprietor. Some portions remain of the ancient
priory of Oronsay, situated close to the mansionhouse,
and forming a venerable feature in a scene of
wild beauty. The ruins are by far the most interesting
in the West Highlands, with the exception only of
those of lona; they consist chiefly of the church, in
which are still preserved the tombs of the ancient Lords,
with a portion of the cloisters and conventual buildings,
and an ancient cross with an inscription, of which the
words Here est Crux Colini Prior. Orisoi are still legible.
There are also the ruins of a castle on an island in a
lake near Colonsay House, which is supposed to have
been a stronghold, or place of retreat in times of danger.
Sir John M'Neill, G. C. B., late envoy extraordinary and
minister plenipotentiary to the court of Persia; and
Duncan M'Neill, Esq., late lord-advocate for Scotland,
were born in Colonsaj-, sons of John M'Neill, Esq., proprietor
of the tvi'o islands.