MULL. ANTIQUITIES. 535 



UNINTERESTING and inconspicuous as are in general 

 the antiquities which occur in the islands hitherto de- 

 scribed, those to be seen in Mull are still more rare 

 and less deserving of notice. The enumeration of cairns, 

 barrows, or grave stones is indeed fruitless, and scarcely 

 capable of furnishing amusement even to the mere 

 antiquary; nor does any monument of this nature seem 

 here to exist, worthy of investigation or record. The 

 castle of Aros, however, if it can be considered an 

 antiquity, is interesting, from the picturesque object 

 which it affords to the artist; the more so as the 

 country is so devoid of scenes on which his pencil 

 can be exerted. Still more striking, from its greater 

 magnitude and elevated position, is Duart castle, once 

 the strong hold of the Macleans, and till lately gar- 

 risoned by a detachment from Fort William. It is fast 

 falling into ruin since it was abandoned as a barrack. 

 When a few years shall have passed, the almost roofless 

 tenant will surrender his spacious apartments to the 

 bat and the owl, and seek shelter like his neighbours 

 in the thatched hovel which rises near him. But the 

 walls, of formidable thickness, may long bid defiance 

 even to the storms of this region; remaining to mark 

 to future times the barbarous splendour of the ancient 

 Highland chieftains, and, with the opposite fortress of 

 Ardtorinish, serving to throw a gleam of historical interest 

 over the passage of the sound of Mull. The castle 

 of Moy, situated in Loch Buy, is one of the most entire 

 of these more recent antiquities. Standing near the 

 modern excellent mansion it presents an interesting 

 contrast; strikingly illustrating by this relic of former 

 habits, some of the most important results of the change 

 from ancient poverty and consequence to modern wealth 

 and insignificance. The Highland chieftain who still 

 regrets the loss of his former power and influence, 

 would willingly possess his new acquisitions also : would 

 willingly govern yet claim the protection of the state; 



