STAFFA. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 3 



case it would certainly be difficult, if not impossible, to 



land ; but even with such winds a landing may still often be 



effected on the low rocks to the north-west. These winds 



are rare in summer, and still more rarely can they be 



attended with much swell ; as the water has but a short 



run from the coast of Mull, and as such partial seas 



are soon quelled by the tide currents of these narrow 



straits. There are different creeks at the eastern and 



most frequented landing place, in one or other of which 



the washing of the swell round from the windward side 



may be avoided : in doubtful cases a prudent pilot will 



moor his boat astern first ; by which means it may always 



be gently brought up to the rocks, and secured by one 



hawser, or by two carried to the opposite sides of the creek. 



By the same expedient an embarkation may also be safely 



effected.* 



The landing being once made, the great cave f is acces- 

 sible at all states of the tide except that of extreme high 

 water with a heavy sea rolling into it; a circumstance 



* To the few hints already suggested to those who may be inclined 

 to make this interesting tour, I may add one respecting the best rigging 

 for a boat in this squally climate. Those of the country are in general 

 well adapted to the sea, from their buoyancy ; being often of Norwegian 

 construction, and bought from the fir-freighted vessels in their voyages 

 southwards. They are rarely furnished with sails, and when that happens 

 they are ill rigged, and further rendered extremely unsafe by the total 

 ignorance of their management already noticed. The best sail is that 

 known by the name of the shoulder-of-mutton, since it is both safe and 

 easily managed. It carries no weight aloft and is particularly snug when 

 reefed ; is more easily shifted or taken in than the sprit or lug, without 

 endangering the boat by suddenly altering its centre of gravity; is 

 incapable of being taken aback, gibes without hazard, and enables a boat 

 to carry more canvass than any other form. The fault of being occasionally 

 becalmed in a heavy sea is well compensated by these advantages. 

 Nothing but the difficulty of changing established habits, to which seamen 

 are particularly attached, could have prevented its universal adoption 

 instead of the inconvenient and dangerous lug-sail in such common use.J 

 t Commonly known by the name of Fingal's cave. 



Plate XXX. %. 5. 



