BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. 335
that of old the population was much larger than it has been of late years ; that the decrease has
been occasioned chiefly by the ravages of the small-pox, which, many years ago, had been
brought into the island by some foreign vessel, and had swept away at once the whole population,
excepting four families ; and that, though some from the neighbouring isles, who had
come to live among them, have made an accession to their number, yet this catastrophe had
given a death-blow to the population which it has not yet fully recovered. This is at least a
rational account of the matter.
" Their tradition also regarding their origin is extremely probable ; for in language, customs,
and manners, and indeed in every other respect, they bear so complete a resemblance to their
neighbours in the Western Isles, m to leave no room to doubt that they have originally sprung
from them. Besides, the very names which are most prevalent in these isles-as M'Leod,
M'Donalcl, M'Kinnon, Morrison, etc.-hold the same predominance in St. Kilda, a circumstance
which strongly confirms the supposition. The language they speak is pure Gaelic, and the dialect
that of Uist and Harris. There is, however, R rapidity, and an indistinctness, if not a degree
of lisp in their utterance, which makes it rather difficult at first for a stranger to understand
them ; but, in the course of a short time, he gets over this difficulty. Their peculiar employments
(as has been already stated) consist in attending to their little farms, their cattle and
sheep, and preparing a certain quantity of feathers annually for the tacksman, which may be
considered the most arduous and enterprising part of their work. But I fear they cannot be
exempted from the charge of almost habitual indolence. They are seldom wholly idle ; but when
they are at any work, one would think that they are more anxious t o j l l up than to occupy the
time. How desirable on this, as well as on many other accounts, that they might become savingly
acquainted with that Gospel, which teaches its true subjects to be 'diligent in business,
fervent in spirit, serving the Lord I ' In this, as in many respects, they admit of much improvement
; and I have no doubt that, without interfering with the prerogative of a landlord or
tacksman, a prudent missionary, by his advice and example, might effect much in this way, m
well as in more important respects. If he has a sensible, judicious wife, too, who would take an
interest in the females, it would be of vast advantage to them ; and such a companion in St.
Kilda, I need scarcely say, would in every respect be an acquisition to his own comfort."
As anticipated, Mr. M'Donald found the islanders extremely destitute of
religious instruction. They had no place of worship ; and when he addressed
them in a body, they assembled in a barn-an uncomfortable shed which
belonged to all in common. But, although few of them were capable of reading,
and consequently entertained an imperfect notion of the nature of a religious
faith, he admits that in morality of conduct they were at least equal to their
neighbours of the Hebrides ; and he found that several vices prevalent in more
refined society were unknown amongst this primitive and secluded people.
In consequence of the statements furnished by Mr. M'Donald, a subscription
was entered into to erect a place of worship on St. Kilda, together with a suitable
house or manse. While this design was in contemplation, and before its
completion, Mr. M'Donald undertook other three journeys to St. Kilda,' in the
welfare of whose inhabitants he felt an interest which overcame every fatigue or
inconvenience. On one of these occasions he had the pleasure of laying the
foundation-stone of the church destined for their use, and of laying off two
acres of ground as a small glebe, attached to the house of the missionary ; and
on the last of his visits he had the peculiar satisfaction to be accompanied
by the Rev. Mr. Neil M'Kenzie and his family, who had been sent out by the
Society, and whom he introduced to the grateful islanders as their future
pastor.
1 Tbese were performed in 1825, 1827, and 1830.