nature.

columns, so regularly disposed as to resemble in a very striking manner the general effect of architectural design. The island is covered with a rich verdure, and in summer is pastured by a few sheep and cattle, but no human habitation intrudes upon this domain of The usual and easiest landing-place is on the eastern side of the island adjoining to Mull. After landing the visitor takes his course to the south and west end along the base of the cliffs, and comes in succession to the Clam Shell Cave, the Island of Buachaille or the Herdsman, the Great Causeway, Fingal's Cave, the Boat Cave, and Mackinnon's or the Cormorants Cave.

The Clam-shell Cave is so called from its supposed resemblance to the well known shell of this name. On entering the cave on the left, are seen a series of columns extending continuously to the length of 40 feet and bent into a semicircular form, while the wall on the opposite side is made up of the ends of innumerable projecting columns, presenting somewhat the appearance of a honeycomb. This cave extends inwards 130 feet, is 30 feet high, and about 16 at the entrance. Its interior, however, possesses little of in

terest.

Buachaille, or the Herdsman's Isle, is immediately in front of the Clam-shell Cave. At low water, the best time for viewing it, it exhibits a series of small columns rising up from a base of arched and horizontal cones and meeting at the top so as to form a cone. The regularity and symmetry of this rock renders it an object of peculiar interest.

The Great Causeway, a range of massive and per

pendicular pillars, extends from the Herdsman's Isle to the south-eastern corner of the island, where Fingal's Cave is situated. This is by far the greatest wonder of Staffa :

66

that wondrous dome,

Where, as to shame the temples deck'd
By skill of earthly architect,

Nature herself it seemed would 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 prolong'd and high
That mocks the organ's melody.
Nor doth its entrance point in vain
To old Iona'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!"

SCOTT's Lord of the Isles.

As its floor, in all states of the tide, is laved by the sea, the best way of viewing it is by a boat. Entering by a superb Gothic arch 66 feet in height and 42 feet wide, the visitor is ushered into a long withdrawing hall 227 feet long, with massive pillars rising up on all sides to the height of 20 and 35 feet. The green waters of the ocean form the floor, while from the roof depend various groups of pillars in every variety of angular and jointed shape. The effect produced by the contemplation of this magnificent temple cannot well be described. "Were it," says Dr MacCulloch, "even destitute of that order and symmetry, that richness arising from multiplicity of parts combined with greatness of dimensions and simplicity of

style which it possesses, still the prolonged length, the twilight gloom, half concealing the playful and varying effect of reflected light,the echo of the measured surge as it rises and falls,-the pellucid green of the water, and the profound and fairy solitude of the whole scene, could not fail strongly to impress a mind gifted with any sense of beauty in art or nature." The best view of the cave is on the right of the entrance and at low water. Its Gaelic name is Uaimh Binn, or "The Musical Cave;" that of Fingal being

more recent.

The Boat Cave, is situated about the centre of the west end of the island, and has been so called because it is accessible only by a boat and in calm weather. It is smaller than Fingal's Cave, being in height 16 feet, breadth 12 feet, and length 150. Its interior is smooth and uniform, and possesses no very great interest, the columns of the entrance are, however, very symmetrical.

Mackinnon's Cave, called also the Cormorants, from the numbers of these birds which take up their abode in it, is situated at the south-west corner of the island. This cave is of easy access by water. Its exterior is spacious, and clustered with regular columns; but its interior is less magnificent than the great cave already described, possessing less order and regularity of columns. Its height is 50 feet, breadth 48, and length 224 feet. Along the shores of the other parts of this singular island there are also numerous hollows and caves, all possessing a basaltic and columnar structure; but, after having seen those enumerated, there is nothing very remarkable in the appearance of the latter.

This island lies in the same line of direction as the Giant's Causeway of Ireland, and has probably owed its origin to the same eruption of the trap-rocks forming both. The name is Norwegian, Staf signifying pillars or staves. The average diameter of the basaltic columns is about two feet, the extreme diameter four feet. The number of sides varies from three to nine. At the landing-place the debris forming the beach is composed of various rocks and minerals not now found on the island. Staffa belongs to Sir Reginald Macdonald Steuart Seton, Bart. It was never heard of beyond the boundaries of the neighbouring islands till 1772, when an Irish gentleman visited it, and communicated the discovery to Sir Joseph Banks.

Iona, or Icolmkill, lies nine miles south-east of Staffa. It is a low-lying island, about three miles in length, and one in breadth, and possesses nothing re

markable as to form or natural beauty, were it not for the associations linked with its history. Dr MacCulloch remarks, “that in any other situation the remains of Iona would be consigned to neglect and oblivion, but, connected as they are with an age distinguished by the ferocity of its manners, and its independence of regular government, standing a solitary monument of religion and literature, such as religion and literature then were, the mind imperceptibly recurs to the time when this island was the "light of the Western World," a "gem in the ocean," and is led to contemplate with veneration its silent and ruined structures. Even at a distance, the aspect of the cathedral, insignificant as its dimensions are, produces a strong feeling of delight in him who, long coasting the rugged and barren coast of Mull, or buffeted by the turbulent waves, beholds its tower first rising out of the deep, giving to this desolate region an air of civilization, and recalling the consciousness of that human society, which, presenting elsewhere no visible traces, seems to have abandoned these rocky shores to the cormorant and the sea-gull."

Here we cannot avoid quoting Dr Johnson's splendid passage on Iona;-it is perhaps one of the finest in the English language, and spirit-stirring to those visiting the spot." We are now treading that illustrious island, which was once the luminary of the Caledonian regions, whence savage clans and roving barbarians derived the benefits of knowledge and blessings of religion. To abstract the mind from all local emotion would be impossible, if it were endeavoured, and would be foolish if it were possible. Whatever