174 LEWIS. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



Loch Seaforth. Whatever claim the Birken isles may 

 once have had to their name, they must long since 

 have lost it, since neither birch nor any tree except a few 

 stunted plants of Populus alba is to be seen through 

 the whole extent of Lewis. 



Passing Loch Hourn the cliffs increase in height, the 

 Kebock Head attaining an apparent elevation of 150 or 

 200 feet, but with a similarity of character to the preced- 

 ing, while the interior land begins also to rise into that 

 mountainous group which forms the southern part of this 

 district. The mountain character, which had disappeared 

 at Loch Bernera, now once more becomes predominant ; 

 the land above the coast rising immediately into hills of 

 considerable elevation which descend with rapid slopes 

 and often inaccessible abruptness into the sea, while they 

 often terminate on the shore by high and craggy cliffs. 

 Loch Shell, Loch Valumis, and Loch Brolum present, from 

 this cause, inlets of considerable grandeur, resembling 

 those which abound on the west side of the main land : 

 but the most magnificent scenery of this coast is found 

 at the entrance of Loch Clay, and in the bay which is the 

 common opening of Loch Seaforth and Loch Trolamarig. 

 The mountains here rise to a great height, and together 

 with much grandeur of outline, form groups of highly 

 picturesque composition. The course of Loch Clay is but 

 short, while Loch Seaforth penetrates upwards of twelve 

 miles inland, losing at length the mountain character 

 which so strongly marks its opening to the sea. Here 

 the coast line of Lewis terminates. 



The general aspect and face of the country is such as 

 to admit of a very natural division into two portions, of 

 characters quite distinct, although not divided by a strong 

 line. The group of mountains which surrounds Clisseval 

 continues across the common boundary of Lewis and 

 Harris without change of character; branching away at 

 length in a crescent-like form on the east and west sides, 

 and maintaining in these directions a considerable altitudr, 



