50 
a chille (or Eilean an Tigh), njDon which, facing the south-west, is 
the shepherd’s house, and also the remains of the cell or church. 
he next largest island is Eilean-Mliuire (called also Island More), 
w nch hos about a quarter of a mile off to the north-east, and is of 
circular shape with a fringing of mural precipice, and a grassy top, 
ihe rocks which lie off the south shore of Garbh-eilean are called 
Galta More and Ox-rock. Garhh-edean is about four miles in 
circumference, if the cliff and coast line be followed, and Eilean-a- 
chille be included as part. 
Viewed from the soutlnvard, and as we saw it upon this occasion, 
the mam island rises with a steep slope from the sea and is covered 
in places almost from base to summit with fine green grass, but at 
almost all points this slope ends abruptly at the base in a low but 
inaccessible precipice-a fringing wall of rock. In many places, 
rugged chft and higli knees of rock project over the coast line; and 
as we approached close to the narrow isthmus or shingle, connecting 
Garbh-eilean and Eilean-a-chille, we felt somewhat at a loss to 
mow how we could possibly ascend to the summit after landino- 
Very different is the view of the group from the north, a“s I 
have seen them on some occasions. On a somewhat hazy day, the 
sheer front of the basaltic cliffs of the north shore, when viewed 
fiom some little distance, imparts to the whole group a most 
singular wall-hke appearance, the upper edge sharply defined 
against the sky. It appears like tlie side-wall of a gigantic square- 
built house with the roof and gables removed ; like in fact, the 
sole-remaining wall of some vast ruin.” 
Ihere are only two regular landing places— viz on either side 
of the isthmus of shingle and round water-rolled boulders, which 
connect the two portions of the main island. The shepherd’s 
house stands in a sunny nook facing the south and west and close 
to the isthmus. The wind being favourable on our arrival, we 
* Since writing the above I read for the first time Macculloch’s account of 
the islauds-before referred to {aniea, p. lG7)-and I find he describes the 
same view as follows :-“But these islands are nowhere more strila.rthan 
when vieued at a sufficient distance froni the northward: the whole of this 
lofty range of pillars being distinctly seen rising like a long wall out of the 
sea, varied by the ruder forms of the others which tower above or project 
beyond them, and contrasted by the wild rocks which skirt the whole Rroun” - 
(op. cit. vol. ni. p. 325). ^ ^ 
