The Land of the Hills and the Glens 



white, and when even the lesser heights of Mull and 

 Ardnamurchan are snowclad. 



Later in the season, when full spring is come, the air 

 is at times of a wonderful clearness, and hills at a very 

 great distance are visible. From Tiree to Ben Nevis is 

 a distance of just over sixty miles, yet I have frequently 

 seen this, the highest of Scottish hills, of an early May 

 day, when the mountain was still of an unspotted white 

 and so contrasted vividly with the deep blue of the sky. 

 At such times, through the glass, every rock of the Coolins 

 is distinct, and the hills about Knoydart seem to lose 

 a little of their sternness as the strong sunlight floods 

 them. 



I think there can be no island more open to the winds 

 than Tiree. When over in Mull the day has been calm, 

 I have often found a fresh breeze blowing here, and in 

 winter across the island there sweep a succession of gales 

 from the south and south-west, that continue for days with- 

 out a moment's intermission, so that even the sanderling 

 and dunlin are driven from the sands and the curlew are 

 no longer heard. 



Tiree has no safe harbour or anchorage, so that the 

 mail boat is often unable to call, and the island sees its 

 mails and bread being carried off once more to Tobermory 

 or perhaps to Bunessan. 



Amongst the older generation of the island it was always 

 held that the wind the old year left behind it would be 

 the prevalent wind for the ensuing year. Thus on Hog- 

 manay, many anxious glances were cast at the sky, and 

 pleasure was expressed if it were seen that the wind was 

 from the south, for the Gaelic saying has it : 



" Gaoth deas, teas is toradh 

 Gaoth tuath, fuach is gaillionn 

 Gaoth 'n iar, iasg is bainne 

 Gaoth 'n ear, meas air chrannaibh." 

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