Hull— Raised Beach of Cantyre. 9 



is supposed to have landed on the shore of Scotland (a.d. 561), are 

 fine specimens, and each has its legend devoutly treasured in the 

 memories of the inhabitants, and happily preserved from the possi- 

 bility of oblivion by the pen of Cuthbert Bede.^ Further north, 

 about three miles south of Campbelton Bay, is a cave held in 



Fig. 2. — St. Kieran's Cave. Baised Coast of Cantyre. 



peculiar veneration by the men of Cantyre. It is the cave of St. 

 Kieran, " The Apostle of Cantyre," and the traditionary preceptor 

 of St. Columba himself (Fig. 2). To this solitary dwelling he was 

 wont to retire at the intervals between his missionary journeys 

 amongst the savage clans and roving barbarians of this wild region. 

 It is hewn in Conglomerate, reaching inward to a distance of about 

 120 feet from the entrance. From the interior, the southern ex- 

 tremity of Arran appears, and the entrance has a rude resemblance 

 to a loftily-pointed arch. At the entrance the floor of the cave is 

 about 12 feet above the present high water level, but it gradually 

 ascends inwards to a height of at least 30 feet. The roof reaches 

 an elevation of about 40 feet above the floor, and the cave itself is 

 truly of ancient date. 



From an examination of the caves which came under my notice, 

 where the entrance was pointed or arched, it became evident to me, 

 that they always had their origin in a fissure or joint, which offered 

 a line of weakness for the action of the waves. In any case, how- 

 ever, the work of excavation must have been a long and laborious 

 one. The huge boulders as they became dislodged from their beds, 

 were doubtless wielded with powerful effect by the waves in batter- 

 ing the sides of the fissure when once an entrance was made, and 

 when we recollect that the lower portions of the cave were subject 

 to this action for a longer period than the upper it is not difficult to 

 account for the arched form of the interior. 

 ' See " Glencresjoran." 



