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island, (the greater Aran) about twenty perches from the sea, and 
present a rugged side of stupendous and continuous rock. With a 
strong westerly wind, these deep and awful abysses, so indicative 
of some great convulsion, emit prodigious columns of water to the 
height of a ship’s mast, accompanied by great quantities of sea-weed 
minced to minute particles. 
Here the Aurora Borealis, in all its sportive and beautiful evolu- 
tions of light, frequently delights the eye of the spectator. 
There has been discovered, I know not in which of the islands, 
a very fine vein of dove-coloured marble, which promises to be of 
much value in the artists’ hands. 
The great isle of Aran is about nine miles in length, and its 
greatest breadth about one mile three quarters. In the cenire is a 
signal tower, and a light house, exhibiting a brilliant revolving light. 
lis south boundary consists of immense rocky cliffs, sixty or seventy _ 
fathoms deep; on the north are low shelving rocks and sandy 
beaches. ‘There is but one safe harbour, with soundings from two 
to five fathoms, and a sandy bottom. In the road, vessels of 400 
tons burden may ride with safety in fair weather. 
The middle isle is divided from the larger Aran by Gregory sound, 
which is about four miles broad, and navigable from shore to shore- 
This island is‘of a triangular form, and about eight miles in circum- 
ference. Its acute angle is lofty and rugged, and terminates in a low 
sandy beach. Its base and one of the sides is boldly perpendicular. 
The southern isle is divided from the last mentioned by a foul and 
dangerous sound, about a league in breadth. This island is com- 
puted to be four miles in circumference, and about one-and-a half in 
length, and three quarters in breadth, Its boundaries are low. 
The channel, dividing it from the county of Clare, is about three 
leagues in breadth. There is a signal tower, and near it an old 
