SKY. CORUISK. 283 



smooth rock into the sea, a long valley suddenly opens 

 on the view, enclosing the beautiful lake Coruisk, on 

 the black surface of which a few islands covered with 

 grass appear with the vividness of emeralds amid the 

 total absence of vegetable green. On every side the 

 bare rocky acclivities of the mountains rise around, their 

 serrated edges darkly projected on the blue sky or 

 entangled in the clouds which so often hover over this 

 region of silence and repose. At all seasons and at all 

 times of the day darkness seems to rest on its further 

 extremity : a gloom in which the eye, discerning but 

 obscurely the forms of objects, pictures to itself imaginary 

 recesses and a distance still un terminated. A remarkable 

 contrast is hence produced in viewing alternately the two 

 extremities from any central point. The entrance, less 

 obstructed by mountains, presents the effect of morning 

 rising to illuminate the depths of the opposite extremity, 

 which appears as if perpetually involved in the shadows 

 of night.* Silence and solitude seem for ever to reign 

 amid the fearful stillness and the absolute vacuity around : 

 at every moment the spectator is inclined to hush his 

 footsteps and suspend his breath to listen for some sound 

 which may recall the idea of life or of motion. If the 

 fall of a cascade is by chance heard, it but serves by 

 its faint and interrupted noise to remind him of its 

 distance, and of the magnitude of the mountain boundary ; 

 which, though comprehended by a glance of the eye, 



* It is not surprising that Coruisk should be considered by the natives 

 as the haunt of the water goblin or of spirits still more dreadful. A 

 seaman, and a bold one, whom on one occasion I had left in charge 

 of the boat, became so much terrified at rinding himself alone, that 

 he ran off to join his comrades, leaving it moored to the rock though in 

 danger of being destroyed by the surge. I afterwards overheard much 

 discussion on the courage of the " Southron" in making the circuit 

 of the valley unattended. Not returning till it was nearly dark, it was 

 concluded that he had fallen into the fangs of the Kelpie. 



