304 The Isle of Saints 



height of 252 feet. It is now uninhabited, like all the Isles of 

 the Sea, with the exception of Garvelloch, the largest one; and 

 has probably been so ever since the breaking up of the monastery, 

 the ruins of which we had come to see. To this, and to its 

 lonely position is probably due the preservation of those relics 

 of that remote period. 



There is every probability that these relics date from St. 

 Columba's time. The island is identified with the "Insula 

 Hinba " of Adamnan, and on it St. Brendan is supposed to have 

 founded a monastery in 545. Though this was destroyed some 

 years later, it is possible that some of the ruins, or at least their 

 sites, may belong to that earliest settlement. A claim has lately 

 been made for a place in Arran as the site of St. Brendan's 

 monastery, but the probabilities seem to favour the lonely 

 Eileach-na-Naombh. In any case it appears certain that St. 

 Columba either restored this monastery, or founded one, on the 

 island about 565. On a grassy slope towards the south-east is 

 the supposed grave of his mother, Eithne. 



The chief points of intereset are grouped in a slight hollov.- 

 just above the landing place. A few yards above the beach is 

 the " Saints' Well," a spring of good water, and a. .short distance 

 beyond the ruins of a chapel. This is a small building only 

 21 feet 6 inches long internally. The walls are still entire, with 

 the exception of the gables, which have fallen ; and are about 7 

 feet in height. A narrow doorway in the west end, and a very 

 small rectangular window in the east, are the only openings. 

 The building is correctly oriented. Though no mortar has been 

 used in their construction, the walls are beautifully and strongly 

 built, with stones of fair size, carefully fitted, and the openings 

 are very neatly formed. At some recent period a lean-to shelter 

 has been formed at the east end, and the v.-ood beam used to 

 support the roof is still in position. To the side of the small 

 east window is a projecting slate shelf, probably used as an altar. 

 Close to the chapel is a curious underground cell, to which 

 access is gained by a hole about two feet square. Internally the 

 cell is about 4 feet 6 inches in diameter and 5 feet high, and on 

 one .side is a small recess 2 feet by 1 foot 6 inches, and extend- 

 ing about 18 inches backwards in the thickness of the wall. 

 The cell is neatly built of dry stones, with a beehive roof, the 

 apex of which is about eighteen inches below the surface of the 



