RUM, an island, one of the Hebrides or Western Islands, in
the parish of Small-Isles, district of Mull, county of
Argyll, 12 miles (N. W.) from Arisaig, and 20 (N.)
from the island of Mull; containing 124 inhabitants.
This island, which is the largest of the four islands that
constitute the parish, is supposed to have derived its
name, in the Gaelic language signifying "room" or
' capacity", from its superior extent. It is situated in
the Atlantic Ocean, between the islands of Eigg and
Canna, from which it is neai-ly equidistant; and is of circular
form. Rum is from eighteen to twenty miles in
circumference, comprising 26,000 acres, of which a very
small proportion is arable and in cultivation, and the
remainder hill-pasture, moss, and waste. Its surface is
generally elevated, in parts mountainous; and though
the hills in some few places are of verdant aspect, yet
the far greater number are abrupt and of rugged character.
On the eastern and north-eastern borders of the
island, the lands are overspread with heath and coarse
grass; on the west and north-west the surface is covered
with soft and luxuriant verdure, affording rich pasturage
for sheep, and displays a beautiful contrast to the less
fertile portions. Amidst the mountainous districts in
the interior are fresh-water lakes of considerable extent,
in some of which trout of small size are found in great
abundance, and of good quality. The moors are frequented
by numbers of grouse; and on some of the
higher hills, ptarmigans, curlews, snipes, herons, and
various other birds are to be seen. Deer were formerly
numerous; but since the destruction of the woods they
have altogether disappeared.
The COAST is bold and rugged, more especially on the
south and west sides, where it is lined with one continuous
rampart of precipitous rock. Of the several small
bays with which the island is indented, the principal is
Loch Seresort, on the eastern coast, at the head of
which is the small hamlet of Kinloch, originally belonging
to the Clanranalds, but now the property of the
Macleans. A harbour has been formed here, which is
easy of access, and affords good anchorage for vessels of
any burthen. The bay is about two miles and a half in
length, and from five to seven fathoms in depth; it is
open only towards the east, and defended on the north
and south by lofty hills rising from the extremities of
the loch, and affording secure shelter from the prevailing
winds. A commodious pier has been constructed, which
gives every facility to vessels in loading and unloading
their cargoes, and to the boats em])loyed in the fisheries.
The principal fishery is the herring-fishery, which is
carried on, however, only to a moderate extent; the
herrings appear in the loch generally in the month of
August, but the inhabitants seldom take more than is
sudicient for the ronsum])ti()n of their own families.
There is a great variety of other fish.
The SOIL of the arable grounds is tolerably fertile,
producing crops of oats, barley, and potatoes. From
the great inequalities of the surface, however, the lauds
are better adapted for pasture than for tillage, and the
inhabitants place their principal dependence on the rearing
of sheep and cattle. The sheep, of which about 8000
are pastured, are of the black-faced breed, and, though
small in stature, are much prized for the delicacy of their
flavour and the peculiar fineness of their wool, much of
which is forwarded to Inverness, where it obtains a very
high price. The cattle are all of the Highland breed,
and are chiefly sold to drovers for the markets of the
south. Considerable numbers of horses of the native
breed are reared in the island, and also numerous herds
of swine, the latter for the Glasgow market. Rum is
composed of old red sandstone, traversed and overlaid
by various plutonian rocks: the sandstone is distinctly
stratified, and alternates with beds of a red-coloured
slate clay: in the cliffs of amygdaloid on the west occur
beautiful varieties of chalcedony, heliotrope, and other
minerals. The residence of Dr. Maclean is a neat mansion
with extensive offices, erected by him as tenant in
\S'i6, at the head of Loch Seresort, and surrounded by
a highly improved demesne embellished with thriving
plantations. There is no village; and the sole means
of communication with the post office of Arisaig, on the
main land, or with the adjacent islands in the parish, is by
small boats, of which every family keeps one for its own
accommodation. Steamers between the Clyde and the
port of Inverness pass and repass along the channel
several times a week. A missionary who received £75
per annum from the Royal Bounty, and for whom a
house was built by the heritor, formerly resided here,
and officiated in his own house, in which a large room
was appropriated as a place of worship; and also in the
island of Canna; but the mission was suppressed in
1835, since which time there has been no minister.