5% ST. K1LDA. SCENERY. 



feet above the level of the sea below. Not many yards 

 beneath this summit the hill is cut almost abruptly down 

 to the water ; a dizzy height to the spectator who looks 

 down upon the almost inaudible waves dashing below. 

 At the foot of this fearful precipice some lower rocky 

 points project; which, in any other situation would attract 

 notice, but are lost in the overpowering vicinity of the 

 cliffs that tower above them. The northernmost is perfo- 

 rated by a natural arch of great beauty, and of considerable 

 grandeur ; but the western ocean is unfortunately seldom 

 free from a swell sufficient to prevent boats from approach- 

 ing it. In proceeding to the north-west, the shores soon 

 become considerably lower ; while the land subsiding 

 by a steep grassy slope, forms a kind of valley along the 

 sinuosity which here looks towards the north. Near the 

 extreme point of the island it again rises into a hill 'almost 

 equal in height to Conochan and terminating all round 

 towards the sea by precipices. Hence to- the southern 

 extremity, a continuous precipitous fall bounds the ridge ; 

 preserving a high elevation along the western shore, till it 

 terminates in the narrow but high ledge of rocks that forms 

 the southern horn of the bay. This promontory is 

 detached from the island by a fissure through which 

 the sea flows. It is called Dune, and appears to have 

 been once the seat of some rude tower or fortalice. 



At the north-western end of the island lies the small 

 but lofty and precipitous Soa, separated from it by a 

 narrow strait in which are two highly picturesque rocks ; 

 one of them being perforated by an arched passage. 

 The depth and darkness of this narrow chasm, form, 

 when viewed from above, a scene of singular sublimity, 

 particularly in stormy weather; the clouds which sweep 

 along the summit involving the spectator, and the mists 

 which arise below from the dashing of the sea, adding 



habitual inaccuracy in matters of ordinary occurrence, can scarcely 

 account for such errors in things that are to be determined by weight and 

 measure ; but they are not confined to Macaulay. 



