TIREY. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



TIREY*. 



THIS island forms, together with Coll, a sort of chain, the 

 general disposition of both being similar, and the mineral 

 composition nearly identical. They may, indeed, in a 

 geological point of view, be almost considered as one 

 object, since their geographical discontinuity is attended 

 with no change in the nature or disposition of their rocks. 

 The sound by which they are separated scarcely exceeds 

 half a mile at its narrowest part ; and its depth, which is 

 no where more than six or seven fathoms, is rendered in 

 many places much shallower by interspersed rocks and 

 sand banks. The position of the chain, extending from 

 the southern end of Tirey to the Cairns of Coll, is direct, 

 and on the S.W. by W. rhumb; the total length being 

 25 miles, or a little more. The shores offer frequent, but 

 not extensive indentations, consisting of sandy bays 

 separated by ridges of rock. They abound in the common 

 fuci, which are manufactured into kelp, and are frequented 

 by the fish usual in these seas, cod, plaice, coal fish, and 

 gurnards; but the fishery forms no regular part of the 

 pursuit of the inhabitants, as it does in many of the 

 other islands. 



Tirey is the southernmost of the two, its length being 

 twelve miles, and its greatest mean breadth about four. 

 Its general surface is flat, and so low that it is scarcely 

 elevated twenty feet above the high water mark, affording 

 a free passage to the western winds, which sweep it with 

 unrestrained violence. Having no trees, and scarcely any 

 enclosures to check their force, the gales pass over the 



This name has been a source of difficulty to Gaelic etymologists. 

 Tir, a region, (Gaelic.) Tirim, dry, is more appropriate. In the 

 Swedish, Tiur, a bull. Muck, Canna, Soa, and Inish Capel, all offer 

 analogies in favour of this derivation. See the general map. 



