CUMBRAY (GHEAT). GEOLOGY. 479 



remarkable which occurs through the whole range of these 

 coasts; always pointed out by the mariners to strangers 

 who navigate the Sound. It occurs between Aros and To- 

 bermory, standing far out from the cliffs on the flat shore 

 which here skirts the margin of the sea. One, at least 

 equally remarkable, occurs in a similar situation near the 

 point of Sleat in Sky, attaining to the height of forty feet : 

 those which I have pointed out near Loch Craignish, and 

 those more recently mentioned in Arran, must be still 

 fresh in the reader's recollection. It is indeed unneces- 

 sary to protract this enumeration, as examples of the same 

 fact must have been witnessed by all those who have 

 traversed the western parts of Scotland. In enumerating 

 those above mentioned, my object is to distinguish the 

 two opposite situations in which such outstanding veins 

 are found ; namely, on the shores of the sea, and on the 

 elevated land far out of its reach ; and this for the purpose 

 of founding on them some remarks of a general nature. 



It requires no arguments to show that these veins have 

 derived their forms from those of the fissures of the 

 surrounding rocks ; and that however far they may now 

 project from the present surface, they have at one time 

 been surrounded by the strata, to the removal of which 

 they owe their present appearance. They offer therefore 

 a gage, or criterion, by which to judge of the waste 

 of the surrounding land, at least to a certain depth ; since 

 it is in many cases obvious, from the ruins which surround 

 them, that they are but imperfect records ; having them- 

 selves participated in the general destruction of the sur- 

 face. Hence also we may fairly conclude, that the surface 

 of the land is, in many other instances, in a state of 

 waste ; although we may have no criterion like this by 

 which it can now be indicated. 



With respect to those that are found on sea shores, 

 as in Isla, Mull, Sky, or Arran, the destroying causes 

 are so obvious that it is superfluous to point them out. 

 Nevertheless it is not uninteresting to contemplate the 



