92 Transactions of the 



found in the island of Uya, formino^ the cover to an urn of steatite, 

 containing burnt bones. In tlie British Museum are some roughly 

 worked stones from Unst, and seven vessels of chlorite schist, found in 

 a kistvaen, by Dr. James Hunt. (Anthr. Soc : vol. 1.) 



The only two places that the visitor to Unst can put up at are Balta 

 and Uya, of which the former is the best and most interesting, as it is 

 in the centre of the island, and, therefore, the minerals, chrumate of 

 iron and hydrate of magnesia, the Arenaria norvegica, and the circles 

 on Crucitield, are all easily reached. So, from Balta, whether the 

 tourist mounts the hardy shelty, or prefers exei'cising his own legs, he 

 may sui'vey tiie whole island in about four excursions. 



I shall now attempt to give a short description of the various objects 

 of interest as I pissed them in an excursion to the southern part of the 

 island. Starting from Balta, and steering straight over Verdefield Hill, 

 the boundary between the diallage and serpentine is passed, but ou 

 either foimation about here, the country is uninhabited, and the coast 

 uninteresting. The sea is shallow between here and the opposite island 

 of Hunie, and a whale is reported once to have grounded on the inter- 

 vening sandbank. These are not rare visitants, and at Buness House, 

 Balta, the ribs of a large whale, caught here, are deposited. Continuing 

 south, the point of lirongh is reached. Here the ruined homesteads of 

 Colvidale indicate the decrease of the population. There is here a 

 square inclosure, still used as a place of burial, which contains the last 

 remains of an old kirk. This building, which now serves as a shelter 

 for cattle, is of oblong shape, enclosed by four walls, which reach the 

 height of seven feet in their highest part, and are built of loose stones 

 without any mortar. The chapel is only four yards broad, and fifteen 

 yards long. The door was on the west side, but no signs of windows 

 are visible. After the church was abandoned, it appears to have been 

 selected as a place for the dead, as there are tombstones inside, one 

 being a flat one resting on four supports, the inscription illegible. 

 Human bones lie scattered about, and the ground inside is overgrown 

 with weeds. On the coast here is the small open bay of Sandwick, with 

 Vord Hill on the right hand. Before reaching the village of Muness, a 

 small burn is crossed, which runs thiough the vale of Hannigarth, 

 formerly connected with Shetland superstitions, as a place frequented 

 by ghosts and fau'ies. The chlorite schist now takes the place of the 

 diallage. The old feudal castle of Muness is the next object of 

 interest, but nothing is done for its preservation, it being left 

 open, and frequently serving as a cattle-shed. It is of oblong 

 shape, its solid walls having a thickness of four feet, and built of 

 stones quarried on the spot, though the ornamented parts are of 

 hard freestone. There are large circular towers at its north- 

 western and south-eastern corners, while at the other angles there 

 are small hanging turrets, with beautifully sculptured machicoles. 

 It has oblong windows at each side, besides several loop-holes, 

 some of which display peculiarities from their quatrefoil and 

 starlike shapes. The castle has two storeys, the upper one is divided 

 into three rooms, the two end ones connected with the towers, and the 



