EINGAL'S CAVE. 
Stapfa is one of a group of islands called the Hebrides, or Western 
Islands of Scotland. It is of an irregular oval shape ; about a mile 
and a half across, and is a sort of table-land, supported by cliffs of vari- 
ous heights. These cliffs are formed of a stone called basalt, which 
rises up to a great height, in the shape of lofty pillars. In many parts 
of the coast these pillars have yielded to the action of the sea, and caves 
have been formed of remarkable beauty. 
The caves are most easily seen along the eastern side of the island ; 
the surge, which constantly beats on the other sides, rendering an ap- 
proach difficult and dangerous. So beautiful and regular are these 
caves that they appear to have been built up by the hand of man ; the 
lofty columns are like those of a cathedral, supporting a richly carved 
roof, adorned with various hues, while the ends of innumerable small 
columns of basalt give the ground the appearance of a tesselated pave- 
ment. 
The most celebrated of these caves is that known as Fingal's Cave. 
The entrance is an irregular arch fifty-three feet broad and one hundred 
and seventeen feet high. The interior is two hundred and fifty feet in 
length. The sides are straight, and are divided into pillars, some of 
which, on the eastern side, are broken off near the base, and form a path 
to the farthest end. The rest of the floor is washed by a deep and often 
tumultuous sea. In fine weather boats can reach the farthest end of the 
cave, but with the least swell they are liable to be dashed to pieces. 
When the sea is boisterous, the waves rush to the farthest extremity 
with a deafening noise, hurling aloft volumes of spray, and flakes of 
foam. At the extreme end is a kind of natural throne, from which the 
spectator commands a fine view of that magnificent hall, which by its 
beautiful symmetry resembles, yet surpasses, the imitative efforts of man. 
Sir Walter Scott says of this wonderful scene, " The stupendous colum- 
nar side wails — the depth and strength of the ocean, with which the 
cavern is filled — the variety of tints formed by stalactites dropping and 
petrifying between the pillars, and resembling a sort of chasing of yellow 
or cream-coloured marble, filling the interstices of the roof — the corre- 
sponding variety below, when the ocean rolls over a red, and in some 
places a violet coloured rock, the basis of the basaltic pillars — the 
dreadful noise of those august billows, so well corresponding with the 
grandeur of the scene — are all circumstances elsewhere unparalleled." 
The same writer notices the cave in poetical language, thus : — 
" Here, as to shame the temples deck'd 
By skill of earthly architect, 
Nature herself, it seemed, Avould raise 
A minster to her Maker's praise ! 
Not for a meaner use ascend 
Her columns, or her arches bend ; 
Nor of a theme less solemn tells 
That mighty surge that ebbs and swells, 
And still, between each awful pause, 
From the high vault an answer draws 
In varied tone prolonged on high 
That mocks the organ's melody. 
Nor does its entrance front in vain 
To old lona's holy fane, 
That Nature's voice might seem to say 
' Well hast thou done, frail child of clay ! 
Thy humble powers, that stately shrine 
Task'd high and hard — but witness mine ! ' " 
No. 8.] 
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