270 CRAIGNISH ISLES. GEOLOGY. 



more impressive by the parallel sides of the loch, which 

 accompany them with a similarity of character and dis- 

 position. 



Between Garvrisa and the point of Craignish is the 

 passage known by the name of Dorish more, (the great 

 gate), frequented by vessels passing from Crinan northwards, 

 and distinguished, like the other narrow channels of this 

 coast, by the strength and rapidity of the tides and, by the 

 short cross sea produced when their course is opposed 

 to a fresh breeze.* 



Notwithstanding the geographical insignificance of these 

 islands, their geological history is important, as they will be 

 found to appertain to an extensive series of rocks, already 

 noticed, which forms a considerable tract in Nether Lorn, 

 Knapdale, and Cantyre. Shuna, formerly described, is a 

 portion of this series; and it will hereafter be seen to 

 extend to the isles of St. Cormac, and to the associated 

 islands of Gigha and Cara. 



As all the Craignish isles are similar in composition, 

 the same general description will suffice for the whole : 

 the more extensive connexions and general relations of 

 the series will be best understood when the remaining 

 islands of similar structure ha.ve been described. 



The leading direction of the strata appears to be north- 



* On the day of my visit to these islands, a boat with six men 

 was lost in this passage ; an accident, like most of those which happen 

 in the Western islands, resulting from the rashness and ignorance of 

 the boatmen. Were it not for the extreme buoyancy of their boats, 

 generally built on the plan of a Norway skiff, and often indeed built 

 in Norway, such accidents would be more frequent, as no experience 

 seems to have taught them the management of a boat in those delicate 

 cases which are of perpetual occurrence in such a sea of cross tides and 

 in a climate so squally. 



It is not an exaggeration to say that the traveller who makes this 

 tour, is in daily, often in hourly risk of his life, more particularly with 

 the boatmen of the country ; the rigging of their boats being as bad 

 as their management. Fortunately for themselves, their timidity is 

 generally equal to their ignorance. 



