The Western Isles were taken over by the Norsemen in the 9th century, and their influence can still be seen in their place-names, which are still in use, in a Gaelic guise, '-bost' for a village, as in Seilebost and Horgabost, '-val' for a hill, as in Bleabhal and Chaipabhal, and '-vat' for a loch, as in Langabhat and Cistabhat, are examples. On the east side there are '-settr' for a grazing, as in Drinisiadar, '-vagr' for a bay, as in Miabhag and Fionnsbhagh and '-vik' for a creek, as in Beacrabhic, are examples. The evidence of place-names suggests that the Norsemen may even have had one of their main bases in the Bays, as Scadabhagh can be translated from Norse as Tax bay, the natural harbour where the king's ships from Norway came to collect taxes from the settlers in Harris.
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