133 



The total thickness of the various beds is not more than fifty 

 ieet. Whin dikes traverse both the slate and sandstone. The 



(a) Slate; (b 5) beds of white siliceous limestone ; (c) sandstone and conglomerate. 



presence of this peculiar limestone fixes the age of the deposit, which 

 resembles, in all respects, that already noticed at Achab farm, and 

 the Fallen Bocks, as forming a gradation from the old red to the 

 carboniferous series there being a difficulty in determining to which 

 it ought to be assigned. We are inclined to the view that it is the 

 lowest member of the carboniferous system. The occurrence of the 

 limestone here has been noticed by Jamieson (Min. of Scot. Isl., vol. i., 

 p. 78, edit. 1800), from whom our cut is taken; by Headrick (p. 206, 

 1807); and by MacCulloch (vol. ii., pp. 376, 356, 1819). Later 

 writers have classed it as new red sandstone, overlooking the lime- 

 stone, and have given the dips erroneously. The deposit is a mere 

 isolated patch, and has no connection with the sandstones eastwards, 

 which abut upon the slate, and are clearly the uppermost members 

 of the carboniferous series in this part of the island. 



Very few granite blocks occur along the north shore, and none of 

 more than two to three tons in weight. But as we enter Loch 

 Banza and its glen opening directly on the granite nucleus, we meet 

 with boulders of great magnitude. Two of this kind, with many 

 lesser, rest on the beach at the north-east angle of the bay. 



92. One generally reaches this point late in the day, when the rays 

 of the declining sun already fall strongly on the outer part of the bay, 

 the upper portions being in the deep shadow of the high western 

 hills. The old castle on its raised bank of shingle, which has kept 

 its place steadfastly against wind and tide for at least 2,000 years,, 

 is a fine object in the foreground. The middle of the picture is 

 occupied by boats, in from the fishing, and by nets suspended 

 between high poles, beyond which is a line of white cottages on the 

 west side, and houses of higher pretensions on the east, from which 

 the curling smoke rises up invitingly. The background is a 

 dark circle of gloomy hills, now reflected in the lipping tide, which 

 give an air of peculiar solemnity and seclusion 



" To the lone hamlet, which her inland bay 

 And circling mountains sever from the world." 



Beyond, and over all, rises the serrated granite ridgo of Castle 



