LISMORE. DUNSTAFFNAGE. 93 



several years. Under his surveillance, from the period of the French Revolution, 

 those intended for the Roman Catholic priesthood here completed their studies, 

 and afterwards assumed their functions in various parts of the Highlands. 

 We have already adverted to the lime-stone quarries which furnish the 

 chief export of Lismore. The lime is of a quality which finds it a ready 

 market wherever it is known, and affords a lucrative source of revenue to the 

 proprietor. 



On the opposite shore, near the month of Lorh-Etive, is the celebrated Castle 

 of Dunstaffnage the stronghold of the lords of Lorn, and, traditionally, one 

 of the earliest residences of the Scottish monarchy. It is a lofty square, or 

 rather octagonal structure, crowning a perpendicular rock, and accessible only 

 by a narrow outer staircase, which one sentinel could defend against a thousand 

 assailants.* At each of three angles is a round tower, the remaining angle 



O DO 



being also rounded ; and on the inner area of one of these is a square building 

 of three stories, and of seemingly modern workmanship, compared with the 

 rest of the castle. Of this portion the roof remains entire, and the flooring 

 in a state of considerable preservation. A small house within the ancient walls, 

 erected little more than a century ago, is the only portion of the fortress now 

 inhabited. The circumference of the ancient building is about four hundred 

 feet, and the walls from thirty to fifty feet high, by ten feet thick. It is 

 supposed to have been erected towards the end of the thirteenth centurj', and 

 was taken possession of by Robert Bruce after his victory over the lord of 

 Lorn, in the Pass of Awe.f It was afterwards inhabited till the middle of the 

 fifteenth century by the lords of Argyll ; and, during the wars of Montrose, 

 Macdonald of Colkitto narrowly escaped falling into the hands of its hostile 

 garrison. J Believing it to be held by his friends, he was unsuspectingly 

 approaching it in a boat, when a faithful piper, himself a prisoner in the garrison, 

 struck up a well-known air, which Macdonald perfectly comprehending, hastily 

 shifted his course and escaped. His escape, however, cost the piper his life ; 



* " Hewn in the rock, a passage there 

 Sought the dark fortress hy a stair, 



So strait, so high, so steep, 

 With peasant's staff, one valiant hand 

 Might well the dizzy pass have manned 

 'Gainst hundreds armed with spear and brand. 



And plunged them in the deep." Lord of t lie Isles, canto I. 

 t .fee the following historical notice at p. 102. " Pass of Awe." 



J From Dunstaffnage, as stated in our notice, Perth, the famous stone or palladium on which the 

 Scottish rnonarchs used to be crowned, was transported to Scoone, and thence to England, where it now 

 remains in Westminster Abbey. 



VOL. II. B B 



