ISLA. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



ISLA.* 



ALTHOUGH the geological interest of Isla is not pro- 

 portionate to its magnitude, and its physical structure has 

 been very much anticipated in the account already given 

 of the other islands of this chain, it is nevertheless highly 

 worthy of investigation. By exhibiting the phenomena 

 observed in those islands in a different manner, and by 

 adding considerably to their geographic extent, it con- 

 firms the preceding remarks, and removes any doubts 

 which might have arisen from imperfect or deficient ob- 

 servations. It displays at the same time some other 

 appearances, tending, not only to throw light on several 

 facts already described in different parts of this work, 

 but adding something to that mass to which they have 

 already contributed. 



The greater part of the surface of Isla being even, 

 or swelling into gentle undulations, while the ridges of 

 hills which skirt it toward the east and west are of 

 moderate elevation, it offers but little attraction to the 

 traveller whose pursuit is picturesque beauty. The coast 

 line is in general equally void of character ; being bounded 

 by low shapeless rocks or by flat shores and sandy bays ; 

 with the exception of a very few points which present 

 considerable faces of broken and abrupt rock. But all 

 beauty in nature is not necessarily picturesque ; and to 

 him whose taste is not exclusively confined to that which 

 alone is the province and pursuit of the painter, Isla 

 affords many attractions. Yet it is not absolutely void 

 of objects worthy the attention of the artist, since the 

 cliffs of Macarthur's head and of the Mull of Oe, present 

 scenes of considerable grandeur, in the forms and colours 

 of their lofty rocks, intermingled with grassy slopes and 



* Sre the Mup of" Isln and Jurfc. 



