492 AILSA. GENERAL DESCRIPTION. 



form an angle of forty-five degrees, and, at the south, 

 one but little different ; inclinations which, unless in 

 very favourable circumstances of ground, may be con- 

 sidered as impracticable. The shores, if shores they 

 may be called, which are found at the foot of this rock, 

 are formed of the stones and rubbish that fall from the 

 summit, and are, with the exception of the landing place 

 above mentioned, so narrow, that although it is possible 

 to land upon them in fine weather, they afford no view 

 of the magnificent scenery which towers above them. 

 For this purpose it is necessary to make the circuit in 

 a boat ; the summit of the island being not only difficult 

 to traverse, but presenting, even when the laborious task 

 has been executed, no sight of the perpendicular faces 

 which constitute its most striking; features. 



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On the east side, at about a fifth of the height, there 

 is a sort of prolonged stair, or shoulder, on which are 

 the remains of an ancient tower of strength, of a square 

 form, and containing several vaulted chambers still entire. 

 On this side, the hill continues to rise all round by various 

 irregular stages to the top, which consists of an irregular 

 longitudinal ridge lying north and south. The access 

 is uncommonly laborious, not so much from its steepness, 

 as from the fragments of rock with which it is over- 

 whelmed, and the luxuriant vegetation of various tall 

 plants which conceal their intervals and inequalities 

 from the eye. The chief of these are the common 

 nettle, the Silene amoena, and the Lychnis dioica ; the two 

 latter flourishing with unusual luxuriance, and producing, 

 in the season of flowering, the most splendid effect. 

 The grassy surface every where partakes of the same 

 luxuriance of character, being occupied chiefly by rabbits, 

 the commerce in which forms a principal part of its 

 value. It is shared with them by a few goats in a 

 state of almost primitive wildness ; the neglected remains 

 of herds to which it was formerly appropriated. Two 

 springs of water are found on the eastern acclivity, 



