330 ARKAN. WATEK. 



aback, experiencing a shift of wind which in fact did not 

 exist. On reaching the lighthouse at Toward point, a 

 strong breeze from the north-west was found blowing 

 down the Sound of Rothsay, so as to oblige the sloops in 

 it to lower their gaff topsails ; while, from the middle of 

 the Clyde, other vessels were seen standing for that 

 passage, also before the wind. Owing to this singular 

 concurrence of winds, the boat was taken ashore, in order 

 to observe the effects more distinctly from a higher eleva- 

 tion, when it was evident that all the vessels coming down 

 the Sound of Rothsay were suddenly taken aback on 

 entering the open part of the Clyde, while the same effect 

 happened to those which were steering in the opposite 

 direction for the Sound. At the same instant of time 

 therefore, there were four fresh breezes blowing from four 

 opposite points of the compass. This appearance was 

 watched for near two hours. It would have been interest- 

 ing to have observed the nature of the confusion which 

 took place at the point of general intersection ; but the 

 lateness of the evening rendered it impossible to carry 

 the boat through all these currents in such a manner as to 

 have ascertained this point in the only practicable and 

 satisfactory mode. 



It is obvious that no theory of a vacuum, or of a mere 

 difference of density, is capable of explaining cases so 

 complicated as this, which if it does not often occur in 

 a manner so very decided and remarkable, is, in a general 

 way, sufficiently known to mariners. 



While on these subjects I shall be excused for intro- 

 ducing another circumstance very conspicuous in Arran, 

 which does not appear to have met with the attention 

 it merits; although individual instances much more re- 

 markable have been recorded : it relates to the colour of 

 water. All the small streams that run down the sides 

 of the granite mountains, in Glen Sannox, Glen Catcol, 

 and elsewhere, are of a sea green colour, possessing at 

 the same time the most perfect transparency. The ab- 



