ACTION OF THE SEA UPON COASTS. 209 



the change it may have undergone. It is certain, how- 

 ever, that within this last century, the sea has made such 

 an impression upon the sands of Barrey, on the northern 

 side of the Tay, that the light-houses at the entrance of 

 the river, which were formerly erected at the southern 

 extremity of Button-ness, have been from time to time 

 removed about a mile and a quarter farther northward, 

 on account of the wasting and shifting of these sandy 

 shores, and that the spot on which the outer light-house 

 stood in the 17th century, is now two or three fathoms 

 under water, and is at least three quarters of a mile within 

 flood mark. 



At the ancient town of Burghhead, to the north of the 

 Spey, an old fort or establishment of the t)anes, was 

 built upon a sandstone cliff, which tradition says, had a 

 very considerable tract of land beyond it ; but is now 

 washed by the waves, and overhangs the sea. The old 

 town of Findhorn was destroyed by the sea, and the site 

 of it is now overflowed by every tide. At Fort George, 

 some of the projecting bastions, formerly at a distance 

 from the sea, are now in danger of being undermined by 

 the water. 



In Orkney, the Start-Point of Sanday, which is now 

 formed into an island every flood tide, was even in the 

 recollection of some old people still alive, one continu- 

 ous tract of firm ground ; but at present, the channel be- 

 tween Sariday and the Start Island, as it is now called, is 

 hardly left by the water in neap tides ; and since a light- 

 house was erected upon this point about ten years ago, 

 the channel appears to have been worn down at least 

 two feet. Similar destroying effects of the water of the 

 ecean are observed on the coasts of England. 



27 



