The Sun.
London, England, 1845-05-26 00:00:00

THE ISLAND OF LEWIS.

James Matheson, Esq., M.P., the new proprietor of the Island of
Lewis, has commenced the improvement of it in an extensive and
spirited manner.
About 1,000 acres of moorland in the vicinity of Lewis
Lodge have been drained and enclosed for planting, of which
fully more than the half has been already planted; and the
drainage has been so effectually and carefully executed, that
there can be little doubt of a successful result. The Mains
Farm attached to the proprietor's residence has been furrow_
drained, partly with tiles, and partly with stones, under the super.
intendence of John Scobie, Esq., his factor, and Mr. Grant, an
experienced agriculturist, who has been engaged to overlook the
agricultural improvements of the island. A most interesting and
important experiment with tussac grass is being tried. The seed
was sent home by the Governor of the Falkland Islands, where
this grass grows luxuriantly. It is to be hoped it may succeed in
Lewis, and we shall look forward with no small Interest to the
result.

The country is being opened up by new roads and bridges. A
new line to Bayble—a very important fishing station on the east
side of the Island—leas been completed. The line to Harris is in
rapid progress ; and one to connect the parishes of Lochs and Uig
is proposed. The old road to Oress, last year almost impassable to
wheeled vehicles, has been thoroughly repaired. The Barvas and
Callernish roads are to undergo the same process.
Curing.houses are being erected at the principal fishing stations,
and, much to the credit of the spirit and humanity of the proprie-
tor, the bothies occupied by the cod and ling fishermen are to be
replaced by habitations of a more comfortable and suitable de-
scription.

Mr. Scobie has been introducing improved stock, both of cattle
and horses ; r.nd much good can be thus brought about without
putting the proprietor to much expense.
A new era has burst upon the Lewis and its inhabitants. Those
who are willing to work now find employment—of itself an ines.
timable boon to the population. The improvements they see going
forward will stimulate and instruct them to drain and take in their
own crofts. The quantity of sea-weed and of shelly sand with
which the island abounds, might enable them to convert into
arable land hundreds of acres of the moss, which is of first-rate
quality at the sea-aide; and, with a proprietor, able and willing to
assist, there is no doubt but that in a few years the surface of the
country will be much altered, and the moral and physical condi-
tion of its inhabitants vastly ameliorated.

It is reported that Mr. Matheson purposes visiting personally
his estate during the summer, and he may rely on receiving a
cordial and hearty reception from the warmhearted tenantry of
Lewis. It is also said that he purposes extending the benefits of
steam navigation to Stornoway, to get a patent slip for the build-
ing and repairing of ships erected. And what is of most import-
ance to the people, that it is his wish to take the management
of the education of the island into his own hands.—lncernesi
Courier.

NORTH AMERICAN BUFFALOES.
The buffalo, or wild American ox, which formerly
abounded in most parts of North America, is every day
becoming scarcer, in proportion as civilization and culti-
vation advance. It was found throughout the whole
range now occupied by the United States, with the ex-
ception of that part which lies east of Hudson's river and
Lake Champlain and of narrow and swampy strips of coast
on the Atlantic Gulf of Mexico. The fineness of the
buffalo wool, which, within a few years, has caused it
to become an object of commerce for the manufacture
of hats and cloths, is mentioned by Merton, a New
England settler, iu 1637. He says, " Their fleeces
are very useful, being a kind of wolle, as fine almost as
the wolle of the beaver." At present they are seldom
seen east of the Mississippi and south of the St. Law-
rence. But they are found in considerable numbers
west of the Rocky Mountains, in the Columbian region,
nearly to the borders of California, and west of Lake
Winipeg up to the sixty-third degree. Their general
colour is dun: sometimes they are spotted. The frame
of the buffalo is larger than that of the generality of
domestic cattle, and, though the fore parts are uncouth,
the hind parts are handsomely and rather delicately
formed. It looks very formidable from its large shoulder
hump, its flowing wiry mane and sweeping beard, and
thick horns, curved backwards. A herd of buffaloes,
when pursued, especially if there be a great number of
bulls, emits a strong odour of musk, which is left in
their wake, and their feet make a loud crackling noise.
Their sense of smell is very acute. Sometimes
they will scent man, if to windward of them, at a dis-
tance of two or three miles, and then they will gallop
away with the greatest speed. When they cannot scent
a man they will bear his near approach, or advance
themselves very near him without any shyness. Whether
this is to be attributed to the imperfect vision of the
animal, whose eyes are obscured by the great quantity
of hair which covers his face, or not, it is not easy to
determine. Though buffaloes and elks are seen on
the same prairies, they do not herd together. Wolves
commonly attend them, and neither seem to molest
the other. It is almost impossible to kill this animal
by shooting it through the head or chest : the head
is so protected by a matting of coarse, wiry hair,
that a ball becomes entangled in it before reaching the
bone; and the chest is so fenced by a bulwark of bone that
it will require many bullets to penetrate it. Accordingly,
the hunters contrive to gallop by the side of the animal,
and shoot it, with bullet or arrow, behind the shoulder
blade. They sometimes congregate in such myriads on
the prairies west of the Rocky Mountains that the whole
circle of vision within the bounds of the horizon presents
one dark mass of these animals. The bulls march at the
head of the cows, and it is then dangerous to encounter
them, for, if they become enraged or frightened, the whole
herd start off in a straight line, and in close order, regard-
less of all obstacles, and would crush to pieces men,
horses, and waggons, if in their way. Some of these
bulls weigh 3,0001b5. each. When there is abundance
of this sort of game the hunters often content themselves
with the choice parts, the tongue, the slices by the hump
ribs, and the marrow, the carcases being left to the
wolves. This waste often leads to woful want. When
this animal is hunted he becomes sometimes bewildered
and exasperated, and turns round on his pursuers : then
it is inevitable death to come within range of his horns.
—Dunn's History of the Oregon Territory.

THE GREAT BRITAIN STEAM-SIIIP.—This magni-
ficent vessel will leave her moorings at Blackwall in the early part
of the ensuing month. The Directors, it is understood, intend her
to put in at the various ports round the coast, viz., Spithead, Ply.
mouth, Falmouth, &c., on her way to Liverpool, so as to afford the
residents an opportunity of inspecting her. Her arrival in the
Mersey is anticipated on the rod of July. She leaves on the 26th
of that month for her first trip across the Great Atlantic.
The Bazaar closes finally on Tuesday, and all the
unsold goods, and the decorations of the Gothic Hall wilt be re-
moved at once to Manchester, preparatory to holding another
bazaar there In the Great Free.trade Hall during the month of
August.
PREPARATION FOR WAR.—A foot-race lately came
off at Hounslow, between the Blues and 2d Life Guards, in refe-
rence to which a newspaper paragraph states that, " for some time
a great spirit of rivalry has existed between those distinguished
regiments, as to which of them could produce the fleetest runner."
To run, hitherto, has not been the ambition of the British soldier;
and we hope this kind of emulation between the Life Guards and
she Blues, has not arisen in anticipation of war.—Punch.
'l'he Rectory of Bothall, with that of Sheepwash,
Northumberland, have become vacant by the death of the Rev.
Wm. Parry. The benefices are in the gift of the Duke of Portland,
and are worth 1,500/. per annum The rectory of Venn Ottery
and the vicarage of Harpford, in the diocese of Exeter, have also
become vacant by the death of the Rev. Marwood Tucker. They
are in the gift of Lord Rolle.
SIR ROBERT PEEL.—ESTATE OF CLOSEBURN.—A
paragraph has been going the round of the press, and was copied
by
tuichs on
Friday
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last, from a Glasgow paper, stating that Sir Robert
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v.
brought to aconclusion on Wednesday afternoon In the midst ef
somewhat heavy rain.—lderylebene the winner.