90 GENERAL REMARKS ON THE 



The external great outline presents an infinite variety. 

 In many places, as at Ru Udrigil and Ru Rea, this 

 sandstone forms a smooth land ; with an even, continuous, 

 swelling outline like those of alluvial countries ; although 

 this coast is characteristically free of alluvial matter, 

 and nothing is found covering the bare rock but the 

 usual shallow mountain soil. In a regular progress from 

 this tameness of outline, it forms hills of all dimensions 

 and of every variety of aspect; round, conical, ridged, 

 or serrated ; ultimately rising to the greatest average 

 altitude of the Scottish mountains. Kea Cloch in Ross- 

 shire presents in itself examples of all these forms, 

 the summits being in some places no less strongly serrated 

 than those of the Arran mountains ; while the height 

 is not less than that of Cruachan, appearing to range 

 between 3500 and 3700 feet. Further examples of the 

 prolonged ridge are seen in Ben more (Coygach) and 

 in Suil veinn ; and of the conical form, in Coul beg and 

 Coul more ; all of these attaining an elevation of about 

 3000 feet. Forms similarly remarkable occur in Sleugach 

 (Gerloch) and in the mountains of Loch Torridon, which 

 present naked and precipitous rocky faces of 1000 feet 

 or more in height, with an aspect as rugged as that 

 of the mountains of Sky. 



The independence of many of these hills forms one 

 of the most remarkable parts of the character of this 

 rock. In many places they rise suddenly from a hilly 

 land of moderate elevation, composed of gneiss; attaining 

 at once to a height above it of 1000 or 2000 feet, and 

 separated from any similar hill by a space of many 

 miles ; thus giving a peculiar character to the distant 

 outline of Sutherland and Ross- shire. In other places 

 they form groups more or less condensed, but still se- 

 parated from each other at their bases by the gneiss 

 on which they rest. Where they are insulated they 

 produce a very striking effect, of which examples occur 

 in Suil veinn and Coul beg. Similarly powerful effects 



