HARRIS. GEOLOGY. 163 



vented me from finding the true level of the barometer,* 

 but it appeared to lie between two points which would 

 give the limits of height each way as 2200 and 2600 

 feet. This mountain forms one prolonged ridge, and 

 is somewhat insulated ; from which cause it is the most 

 conspicuous feature on the east side of the country. 

 The remainder of the southern division as far as Tarbet, 

 is of much less elevation than the group already described 

 as forming the northern half; and may be conceived 

 to vary from 2000 to 1000 feet, declining from the 

 centre of the country on each hand, both towards the 

 easteni and the western shores. 



SUCH is the general disposition of Harris. Its geo- 

 logical history is comprised in a narrow compass, as 

 the reader must be prepared to expect, since it 

 was already said to be a country of gneiss. I have 

 had occasion to describe so often the chief characters 

 of this rock, that I shall here only notice those pecu- 

 liarities which occur in this tract of country, and those 

 mineral substances or rocks which are associated with 

 it. It is probable that something is still left undiscovered, 

 amidst its almost inaccessible deserts, to reward the 

 toils of future geologists. 



A remarkable variety occurs at Curihunish point. This 

 consists of a nearly equal granular mixture of argillaceous 

 schist with felspar and a little quartz, having the aspect of 

 a grey granite, since the laminar tendency is barely dis- 

 coverable. It is disposed in immense squared masses 

 very much resembling the granites of Arran and Dartmoor, 

 and in forms so regular and rectangular as scarcely to 



* Every mountain barometer should be provided with a screw for 

 securing it firmly in the gimbals in the perpendicular position. 

 Without such a contrivance the instrument is nearly useless in windy 

 weather. 



