238 
ACCOUNir OF THE 
From the summit of the Snuke, the highest and central 
peak of the ridge, an extensive view of Shetland is obtained. 
The Ossa Skerry^ a remarkable detached rock, and Ronas 
Hill *, forming interesting features on the left of the scene, 
■ — while Fitfull Head and Fair Isle, objects of no less in- 
terest, terminate the view on the right hand, including a 
space of about seventy miles, chiefly occupied by the M^n- 
land of Shetland. In very fine weather, five hills in Ork- 
ney may be descried, appearing like clouds in the horizon, 
but to the naked eye giving no clue to their identities. 
From these hills, however, the Island of Foula assumes an 
appearance riot to be mistaken. Its precipitous west end, as 
seen from Westra in Orkney, at a distance of seventy miles^ 
forms a striking object. 
The Island of Foula is about fifteen miles from the near- 
est point of the Mainland of Shetland, and from Lerwick 
about thirty miles in a straight line, and in a direc- 
tion nearly west: its greatest length is 3 J miles, and 
greatest breadth 2 J miles. The island is divided into 
two portions of nearly equal extent^ by the mountainous 
and flat ground. Besides the mountainous ridge I have al- 
ready mentioned j the Noup occurs as a detached hill in the 
south, rising very steeply to a height of 810 feet^ and ter* 
minating in a round summit. This hill, thotigh of the 
same height with Arthur's Seat, becomes a feature of minor 
importance in the vicinity of the Snuke. The mountain- 
ridge which occupies so large a portion of the island, has 
its general direction about 60'' W. of N., being about a 
mile and a half long, falling very abruptly to the north, 
and with a gentle slope to the south, till it terminates in 
precipices at the coast, the external form of the mountain 
* Conjectured to be a corruption from Rue-Ness Hill. 
