470 OF THE COAST FROM CAPE WRATH 



be driven into the firth, b olcncc of a tem- 



ped, in the dirk winter's night, her fituation is 

 dreadful beyond deicripuon. Such is the force of 

 the winds and I 'hat fbones of confiderable f: 



are torn from the cliffs, and heaved over the hi 

 rocks, into the adjoining field*. 



Notwithftanding thefe obftru&ions to the naviga- 

 tion from Ireland, Briftol, Liverpool, and the whole 

 weftern coaft of Great Britain, to the Baltic, nothing 

 hath been done to aflift that navigation, and to lefTen 

 the frequent difafters which every fucceeding winter 

 brings upon thofe who are engaged in it. Here arc 

 no towns, harbours, lighthoufes, dockyards, or car- 

 penters for the repairing of damages. The unfortu- 

 nate veflTel, though reduced to the greateft diftrefs, 

 muft proceed to the Baltic or the Irifh channel, be- 

 fore fhe can receive the fmalltft repair. A coaft of 

 near 400 miles, from Ireland to the Orkneys, could 

 not, in the greateft emergency, furnifh a fail, a 



* The caverns formed by the violence of the ocean upon thefe 

 fhores, excite the admiration of every curious traveller. Some of 

 them reach fo far under ground, that no perfon dares venture t 

 the extremity. They arc the reibrt of feals, fea-dogs, and foul ; 

 the former of which, the natives, at the rift of their lives, turn 

 to go<.d account. Theie bold men enter the caverns in boats, and 

 having lighted their torches, make a loud noife, which bring* 

 down the animals in a confuied body, with frightful flirieks and 

 cries. They pafs out of the cave in fuch numbers, that the mem 

 arc obliged to give way until the torrent hath fpent itlelf, when 

 they fall upon the {hagglers, whom they knock on the head with 

 ch:bs. Some of thele caverns have openings through the roof 

 like the chimney? of cabbins ; through which openings, though at 

 a considerable difiance from the entrance on the beach, the roaring 

 of the lea is heard ike thunder, and fometimcs the foaming fpray 

 is perceived by thofe who have courage to approach the verge. 



In the parifti of Far, there is a fmall head-land compofed of fo- 

 lid roxk, into \\hich the lea enters by one of the moft curious 

 natural arches in the world, and hath formed a magnificent 

 vault, through which a boat may navigate to the extelK'dT 200 

 feet ficm the entrance. Writers converiant in natural hiftory have 

 not been able to account for this extraordinary effect of the fea in 

 thus boring a rock, as if done with instruments, of fuch eonfidcr- 

 tble extent. 



cable, 



