20 Dr. Mac Culloch's Sketch of the 



the effects of the eastern and the western sea. I already observed 

 that the eastern cHffs were covered by a slope of alluvial ground 

 descending to the sea ; but the western, though formed of the 

 same rocks, offer an almost continued precipice, the foot of 

 which is every where washed by a turbulent swell. These cli£Fs 

 are in a state of daily ruin, and their bases are beset with 

 enormous masses of rock which from time to time fall from them. 

 The rocks called Macleod's Maidens, the islands in Loch Braca- 

 dale, and other detached rocks which skirt this coast, mark equally 

 the gradual waste of the land. But no slope is formed against 

 their faces, nor does any artificial shore accumulate at their feet, 

 except a narrow and almost impassable interrupted stripe composed 

 of fragments. The smaller pieces and the detritus of these larger 

 ones, are probably carried away from the coast by the incessant 

 action of the western swell far into the depths of the sea. As 

 there are no recorded soundings of this shore, I cannot confirm 

 this supposition by any account of the nature of the bottom. But 

 it will not be out of place to enter into a more particular detail of 

 this line. 



The coast of Sky from Dunvegan head to the entrance of Loch 

 Brittle is, with but few exceptions, formed of high cliffs ; variable 

 however in their altitudes as in their abruptness, but generally 

 very lofty and very abrupt, nay often precipitous and perpendi- 

 cular from their summits to the water's edge. It is unnecessary to 

 note any but the most remarkable points, as there is a great general 

 resemblance throughout the whole. Between Dunvegan head and 

 Loch Bracadale they are often perpendicular, but variable in height, 

 and seldom attain the great elevation which they reach between 

 Talisker and Loch Eynort. There, as in many other places, they 



