436* SHIANT ISLES. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



Although the dimensions of these islands render them 

 as insignificant in the general map, as their small extent 

 does in an economical view, they are well worth the atten- 

 tion of the geologist ; while the lover of picturesque 

 beauty will here, as in many other parts of the Western 

 islands, be gratified with a display of maritime scenery, 

 combining the regularity of Staffa with the grander 

 features of the coasts of Sky. There are three islands, 

 forming a triangular group ; two of them being connected 

 by a neck of rolled pebbles which is, I believe, never 

 covered by the sea. Gariveilan is the northernmost, and 

 is united in the mode just mentioned to Eiian a Kily; 

 while Eilan Wirrey, the easternmost, lies detached about 

 half a mile off. Eilan a Kily, the seat of the ruin above 

 mentioned, is now tenanted by a shepherd, who manages 

 the sheep farm into which the whole group is laid out. 

 The circuit of each of the two largest, Gariveilan, and 

 Eilan a Kily, appears to be about two miles; that of 

 Eilan Wirrey is not above half as much. 



They all present a verdant surface, the lower parts and 

 declivities abounding in rich pasture ; a common attendant 

 on the trap rocks of these islands. 



The altitude of Gariveilan renders it the most conspi- 

 cuous of the group. This, as I measured it by the baro- 

 meter, rises to 530 feet. It is divided into two portions ; 

 the easternmost, and by far the least, consisting of a long, 

 somewhat flat topped ridge, bounded on each hand by 

 perpendicular cliffs attaining to fifty or sixty feet in 

 height. This is connected by a lower neck with the 

 main part of the island, which forms an irregular rounded 

 hill accessible but in one or two points ; even that access 

 being attended with considerable difficulty. The boundary 

 towards the south is the lowest, as it does not in some 

 places exceed the height of thirty feet ; but there, as 

 almost every where else, it presents a vertical face of 

 imperfectly columnar trap. At the east side it descends 

 by irregular stages of columns, sometimes remaining in 



