CUMBUAY (LITTLE). GEOLOGY. 485 



sion, they conduce much to the picturesque appearance 

 of this coast. 



Some conspicuous remains of barrows are to be seen on 

 the north side of the island, some of which have been 

 opened and found to contain the usual objects discovered 

 in similar situations elsewhere. Whether Danish or not, 

 is a question of no great importance, could it be resolved ; 

 yet it is a matter beyond doubt that the Norwegians had 

 possessions in the Clyde; their last stand having been 

 made, and their final defeat having taken place on the 

 mainland opposite. 



The whole island presents a ridgy and terraced surface 

 covered with verdure, the ridges being the faces of the 

 beds of trap which are piled in succession from the base 

 to the summit. The greater number of these abrupt faces 

 looks to the south-west; in which respect they differ from 

 those of the Garroch head in Bute, which are placed 

 in the opposite direction ; but it is to be supposed, that 

 in both cases, the inclination of the trap beds is deter- 

 mined by that of the red sandstone on which they both 

 alike repose. 



As the great Cumbray was found to correspond in 

 structure with the middle region of Bute, so the smaller 

 resembles the southern point of that island ; while it also 

 corresponds with the neighbouring point of Pencross ; the 

 trap there reaching the shore in one precipitous face, 

 though, elsewhere along this coast, it is confined to a certain 

 range within the land. 



The little Cumbray, nevertheless, gives indications of its 

 foundation, in a very minute portion of the sandstone 

 strata, which constitutes the small and low peninsula on 

 which the castle is erected. This is the only place where 

 that rock is visible, the trap every where else reaching 

 to the sea; yet it is sufficient to prove the continuous 

 structure of the whole coast, and to indicate that the 

 trap, here as on the adjoining shore, reposes on the sand* 



