on the Coast of Tiree, c^ c. 127 



rine and a late formation. Along the centre of the Island, and 

 bounding this extensive plain upon the east, there is a tract of 

 moss-land, containing the remains of oak, birch, and other trees, 

 which no longer grow in this exposed situation, and existing 

 here as if to give their testimony to the supposed kindliness of 

 nature to the ages that are past. It is not wonderful to hear 

 the native hum with enthusiasm a song of the times of old, as 

 in passing through this tract he finds the majestic remains of ex- 

 tensive forests, while he is obhged to launch his skiff, and steer 

 for the continent, in order to procure a few sticks for support- 

 ing the roof of his thatched cottage. 



This moss-land does not now stretch to the NW., so far as 

 the fore-mentioned bay, as a portion of the plain or reef which 

 runs along the whole of the western side of the island Ues be- 

 tween it and the sea; but there are symptoms of its having 

 stretched, at some earlier period, to a considerable distance be- 

 yond its present limits, and having formed one continuous sheet 

 with that which is now found constituting part of the bed of 

 the ocean. 



It was about half tide when I happened to visit the bay, and 

 I could not but remark that the gentle acclivity along which the 

 breakers rolled majestically, was of a darker colour than the 

 gneiss of the district would have led me to suppose ; and, on 

 examination, I found that a thin stratum of moss was extended 

 along the western side of the bay, and seaward, as far as the rol- 

 ling of the breakers, and the depth of the water, would allow me 

 to discern it. The waves seemed to roll easily over the smooth- 

 ed surface of this bed, and although they had rendered it 

 broken and incontinuous in many places, and torn it almost en- 

 tirely away in the immediate vicinity of the bank, where heavy 

 stones and sand were frequently tossed about ; still they had not 

 even here done their work so effectually, that small portions 

 might not be found in situ, while they had produced little or 

 no effect, thirty or forty yards seaward from the high water- 

 mark. It could not be traced under the alluvial depositions of 

 the bank, though the nearness of the moss-land of the island 

 renders it more than probable that they were at some time 

 united. 



The general depth of the moss-land is several feet, but the 



