CHAPTER IX 



lONA AND ITS SOUND 



Away to the westward of the Island of Mull, and separated 

 from the Ross by a mile of sea, there lies the small grassy 

 island of lona. For its size — it extends in length some three 

 miles and is in breadth not over a mile and a half — it is 

 perhaps the most famous island of Scotland ; for here it was 

 that Saint Columba made his landing after setting forth from 

 Ireland in the sixth century in order to spread abroad the 

 Christian faith. 



For many years the saint had his home on the island, 

 blessing it, so that in time it was looked upon as a spot 

 sacred to his name and worthy of many pilgrimages. 



From far lands there were brought the remains of those 

 whose wish it was to sleep their last sleep on this holy isle 

 Here lie the kings of many lands. No fewer than forty- 

 eight kings of Scotland — including Macbeth — are buried 

 here, and near them repose also kings of Ireland, Norway 

 and Denmark. Here, too, rest great Highland chiefs whose 

 names are bywords in Scottish history — MacLeods, Mac- 

 Donalds, MacLeans, MacKinnons, MacQuarries — men who 

 in olden times carried in their hands the power of life and 

 death in their clans. 



lona's cathedral, for centuries in ruins, has now been 

 restored, and on a clear day can be seen from afar — from 

 Ulva's Isle, from Gometra, and from distant Treshnish. 



Arising from the blessing given to the island by Columba, 

 it is said that no serpent can survive on lona, and I believe 

 that on the few occasions on which adders have swum the 

 sound they have soon perished. This immunity is also said 

 to be found in the district of Ormsaig, in the Ross of Mull, 



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