A large tract of land, called the CURRAGH, runs the breadth of the isle betwixt Ballaugh and Ramsea. It was formerly a bog, but, since it has been drained, it is one of the richest parts of the island; and though the peat is six, eight, or ten feet deep, yet by husbandry and burning they have got a surface which will bear the plough. And the same place supplies the neighbourhood both with bread and fuel In this place have been found very large trees of oak and fir, some two feet and a half in diameter, and forty feet long, supposed by the inhabitants to have lain here since the deluge. The oaks and firs do not lie promiscuously, but where there is plenty of one sort, there are generally few or none of the other. In some places of this tract there is a remarkable layer of peat for some miles together, of two or three feet thick, under a layer of gravel, clay, or earth, two, three, and even four feet thick.
A high ridge of MOUNTAINS runs almost the length of the island, which supply the inhabitants quite round with water and fire. Abundance of little rivulets and springs of excellent water (by the sides of which the inhabitants for the most part build their houses) run hence to the sea, and the sides of the mountains are stored with heath, and an excellent peat for fuel. The highest of these mountains is called Snafield; its height, as taken by an exact barometer, being about five hundred and eighty yards; the mercury subsiding two inches and one tenth. From the top of this mountain they have a fair prospect of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
The AIR is sharp and cold in winter; but then this must be understood of such places only as are exposed to the winds, which, considering the situation, must needs be very boisterous. But in all such places as have a natural shelter, or an artificial one from trees, the air is as mild as in Lancashire; the frosts being short, and the snow not lying long on the ground, especially near the sea. This is plain from the improvements that have been made in such places; where their orchards and gardens produce as good fruit, and necessaries for the kitchen, as in any of the neighbouring countries. Mines of coal there are none, though several attempts have been made to find them. But of lead, copper, and iron, there are several, and some of them have been wrought to good advantage, particularly the lead; of which ore many hundred tons have of late been smelted and exported.
One of the chief objects of legislative activity after the Restoration was the regulation of the labourers’ wages and work. The legislation of 1655 on this, as on other subjects, being that of a " Usurped Government," was repealed, but it was re-enacted in 1665, with considerable additions. Thus, all labourers who were set to work compulsorily by the juries had to accept the same wages as those fixed in 1609. The masons, carpenters, shipwrights, hoopers, and thatchers, were also allotted the same wages, with meat and drink, as in 1609, but, without meat and drink, they were allowed 8d. a day.
IMPROVEMENT OF LAND The way of improving their lands is either by lime, by seawreck, or by folding their sheep and cattle in the night, and during the heat of the day, in little inclosures raised every yeare to keep them within a certain compass; which, in about fourteen days' time, is so enriched with the urine and dung of the cattle, as to yield a plentiful crop. These little hedges are very easily raised by a spade peculiar to the country; and, being burnt by the heat of the sun, and flung down before seed-time, yield very good corn, either wheat, barley, rye, or oats. Oats is the common bread of the country, made into thin cakes, as in the fell-country in Lancashire.
HORIZONTAL MILLS. Many of the rivers (or rather rivulets) not having water sufficient to drive a mill the greatest part of the year, necessity has put them upon an invention of a cheap sort of mill, which, as it costs very little, is no great loss, though it stands six months in the year; the water-wheel, about six feet in diameter, lies horizontal consisting of a great many hollow ladles, against which the water, brought down in a trough, strikes forcibly, and gives motion to the upper stone, which, by a beam and iron, is joined to the centre of the water-wheel; not but that they have other mills both for corn and fulling of cloth, where they have water in summer more plentiful.
COMMODITIES. The commodities of this island are, black cattle (of which six hundred, by the Act of Navigation, may be imported yearly into England), lambs' wool, fine and coarse linen, and coarse woollen-cloth, hides, skins, honey, and tallow, and heretofore some corn and beer; which now, since the great resort of strangers, are little enough for their own use.