140 



EXCURSION VIII. 



BY THE INTERIOR OF THE NUCLEUS. 



65. A walk across the interior of the granite nucleus, from 

 Loch Ranza to lorsa water-foot, will be good work for a long 

 summer's day; or the geologist may return from Auchiucar 

 to Loch Ranza by this route. We preferred the former 

 course, passing up Glen Eais-na-vearraid by the base of 

 Torneadaneoin. The granite junction here is very cele- 

 brated, having been often referred to in the discussions be- 

 tween the abettors of the igneous and aqueous theories the 

 Huttonians and Wernerians. In our view, the appearances 

 are strongly confirmatory of the intrusive character of the 

 granite. About a mile south of Loch Ranza we leave the 

 road and pass up to the base of Torneadaneoin, keeping on 

 the west side of the stream. Torneadaneoin is a bold and 

 finely-shaped mountain, 1057 feet in height, which rises on 

 the east side of the gorge through which the fierce blasts 

 already alluded to often come down, while Meall-Mhor rises 

 over it on the west.* Through the gorge a torrent descends 

 into the head of the loch, having cut a deep channel through 

 the hard layers of slate. The place is wild and picturesque ; 

 at some points great caution must be used in selecting our 

 footsteps. It was through this gorge that a glacier, which 

 filled the wide mountain glen beyond, debouched upon the 

 shore of a former period, and threw down into the bay the 

 mass of detritus, which shoaled the water in this sheltered 

 situation, and made the after-work of the river comparatively 



* Torneadaneoin the mountain of birds' nests ; Meal or Muil- 

 Vawr the great, round-topped mountain ; Moil, Muil, whence Mull 

 is a round head, and is applied to mountains and headlands. The 

 Gaelic language does not recognize diphthongs. 



