38 J. D. Marsuaut on the Statistics and 
Ballycastle ; this, therefore, may be considered the mean distance of the island from 
the mainland. 
The form of the island has been compared, like Italy, to that of a boot,* the toe 
pointing to the coal-works of Ballycastle—the heel, where Bruce’s Castle is situated, to 
Cantire—and the top to the great western ocean. Towards the middle, which lies op- 
posite Ballycastle, it is bent in an angle, and thus is formed Church bay, almost the 
only good harbour in Rathlin. 
The length of the island from the Bull or western point, to Bruce’s Castle on the 
extreme east, is 54 English miles. From Rue-point, the most southerly, to Altacarry, 
at the north-east extremity, the distance is upwards of four miles. The greatest 
breadth of the island at any part is 1} miles, and the narrowest, half a mile. 
The highest point of Rathlin is 447 feet above the level of the sea, it is in North 
Kenramer,t at the north-western extremity of the island. The other highest points 
are: 
Kenramer Head, 445 feet. Sliebh-an-all, - 347 feet. 
Farganlack Point, 347 do. Bull Point, = 295 do. 
Lough Cleggan, 350 do. Slack-na-Calye + 240 do. 
Altahuile = /S00rdb. Broagh-mor-na-Hoosid 237 do. 
Kintroan Head 318 do. 
So precipitous are the cliffs, that from the vicinity of Bruce’s Castle, round the whole 
northern shore, by the Bull-point to the church in Church bay, the lowest pomt is 
180 feet above the level of the sea, and the mean height may be said to be 300 feet. 
From the striking similitude existing between the Island of Rathlin and the 
adjoining continent, it is the general opinion that this island had, at one period, 
formed a part of the county of Antrim, from which it has been separated by some 
violent convulsion of nature. All geologists who have made this the subject of inquiry, 
have stated, that in geological structure the island and adjacent continent are accu- 
rately thesame, the principal strata in both being limestone? and basalt. Along the north- 
eastern coast of Ireland, for a space of at least sixty miles, these strata every where 
present themselyes—in one place the limestone rises to a considerable height above the 
level of the sea, and in another gives place to the basalt. On the range of cliffs 
running westward, and forming the northern boundary of Church bay in Rathlin, we 
see the limestone rising abruptly from the ocean, and forming a line of coast fantasti- 
cally beautiful. At Kenbaan-head, on the mainland, corresponding in situation to 
these cliffs, we have the limestone appearing in a similar manner. In both, the lime- 
* «Sir William Petty says it resembles an Irish stochin, the toe of which pointeth to the main lande.”’— 
J. O'D. 
+ Ceai Ratan, the thick head, or promontory. The south end was anciently called Ceai) Caol, or 
slender head, being a small point of land, pointing to the north coast of Antrim.”—J, O'D. 
+ The term limestone must be considered synonymous with the English chalk. 
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