134 GEOLOGY OP ARRAN. 



money, producing 27 a-year. No trace of the chapel now 

 remains. The ruins of the convent of St. Bride, which till 

 lately existed here, are also swept completely away. Some 

 remains indicating the situation of an old cemetery have 

 lately turned up near the supposed site. The only interest 

 connected with it lies in association with the well-known 

 scenes in Scott's Lord of the Isles, in which the scenery of 

 " fair Loch Ranza " is very prettily and graphically de- 

 scribed. The harbour is the resort of fleets of fishing boats. 

 It is a most picturesque and exciting scene to witness the 

 launching of these boats on a summer evening, under a 

 favouring wind. In rapid succession they drop down from 

 the harbour into the outer bay, and dart away in bounding 

 glee, some out north into Loch Fyue, and others away to the 

 left, across the broad waters of Kilbrannau Sound. Though 

 so land-girt and safe-looking, Loch Ranza is by no means a 

 safe anchorage. The most fearful squalls, sometimes even in 

 summer, fall upon it down the narrow opening of Glen 

 Eas-an-Bhiorach, between Torneadaneoin and Meal-Mhor. 

 The currents of a S.E., S., or S.W. wind traverse the whole 

 length of this long glen, hemmed in between high hills, and 

 issue from the narrow gorge with terrible violence. Vessels 

 are thus often driven from their moorings, and obliged to 

 seek safety in the open frith, or by running for Loch Fyne. 



