50 $T. KILDA. HYDROGRAPHY. 



inconsiderable that there is little danger from calms, 

 provided that a very moderate offing is secured. On the 

 south-east side of the island is situated the village, under 

 shelter of a long hill which reaches to a great height and 

 wards off the effects of all winds from the north-east to the 

 south-west. The same ridge shelters the harbour, which 

 is of a semicircular form; advancing, on each side, at least 

 half a mile into the sea, and forming its boundary. The 

 breadth of this bay at the entrance is equal to its depth ; 

 and as it opens exactly to the south-east, it is evidently 

 exposed to very few winds, and those not from the 

 predominant points. There is good clean holding ground 

 within the bay, in a depth ranging from four to seven 

 fathoms, where a vessel of any size may lie for a tide 

 or more, with fully as great security as in most ordinary 

 harbours ; while there is at the same time no difficulty 

 in weighing and running to sea on either tack, should 

 the wind shift so as to blow in shore. In moderate 

 weather, unless there is a sea from the east, a boat can 

 easily land on the smooth shelving rocks near the village, 

 the activity of the natives always ensuring her from being 

 washed back by the second surge. The position and 

 depth of the bay must also render it apparent, that 

 although there should be a westerly swell, as is generally 

 the case, it cannot be very great on a shore so embayed, 

 unless when it has risen to a considerable degree. The 

 truth is, that seamen, impressed with a false notion of the 

 dangers of St. Kilda, shun its coast when they might often 

 find a convenient temporary refuge in its harbour; to them 

 indeed unknown.* 



* An instance of great inconvenience from this cause occurred not long 

 before my visit, in the case of a merchant vessel from the West Indies. 

 The crew had been for three weeks on short allowance of water, and this 

 island was the first land that was made. Here they were becalmed for 

 two days and nearly perishing with thirst ; but there being a considerable 

 swell, they would not venture their boat within a mile of the shore, when 

 a landing might probably have been * fleeted with the. greatest ease. 



