182 JURA. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



JURA.* 



JURA is among the largest of the Western islands, 

 and is conspicuous at a distance, from the considerable 

 elevation no less than from the peculiar forms of its 

 mountains. Its greatest length, extending from S. W. 

 to N. E. is about twenty miles, and its breadth at the 

 southern end, eight ; as far as any reliance can be placed 

 on this very doubtful department of Scottish geography /|* 

 From this widest part, the breadth diminishes gradually 

 northwards, till it is reduced to two miles. The aspect 

 of the island is rugged and mountainous, and it may, 

 in a general sense, be considered as a continued mountain 

 ridge ; since it can scarcely be said to possess a valley, 

 or to terminate in any other plain than that of the 

 surrounding ocean. The shores therefore, as might be 

 expected, partake of this general character, being com- 

 monly rocky and often abrupt; seldom descending to 

 the sea in gentle slopes or flat meadows. Under these 

 circumstances, Jura is almost void of picturesque beauty ; 

 if we except the cliffs, the caverns, and the arches which 

 are to be seen on several parts of the coast. 



The highest part of this island lies toward the south, 

 where it rises into four distinct hills, of which the 

 three principal are well known by the name of the 

 Paps, being seen far at sea and from all the western 

 coast of Argyllshire. There is not much difference in 

 the heights of these three elevations ; and that of Ben 

 an Oir, is about 2500 feet. They have all an irregularly 

 conoidal form, sometimes displaying considerable portions 

 of the naked rock ; but being more frequently enveloped 

 with heaps of large fragments which conceal it and 



* Correctly, Diura; from Diur, a deer. Swedish. See the Map. 



f There is no section of Jura given, as it would have been nearly 

 identical with the eastern portion of Isla, to which the reader may 

 turn. Plate XXII. fig. 4. 



