vitrified fubftances appeared to lie in maffes
in different parts. This mountain has been
reprefented as Volcanic, and thefe fpecimens
(particularly thofe that refemble pumice)
have been brought forward to fubftantiate
the faCt.
I fhould rather fuppofe large fires have
been made' on it as fignals to the neighbouring
ifles and other purpofes ; for which
its fituation is particularly convenient. It
is near the fea, which throws up innumerable
rounded ftones, fome of which I
think moft probably have been carried to
the top of this mountain, to ferve as a
bafe or fire place.
It is alfo probable, that wood and weeds
left by the tide, were gathered to burn as
occafion required,' which may in fome degree
account for the vitrification encompaf-
fing the rounded ftones, more efpecially as
they are only in fmall heaps. This mountain
tain has not the fmalleft veftige of any
thing like volcanic origin; at one end are
a number of ftones placed without order
or regularity.
From Oban I hired a boat to the ifle
of Mull: and walked to Arros. In various
directions I travelled about 50 miles
on that ifland, and found it generally ofba-
falt, in fuch various ftages of decompofi-
tion, as to render its character loft in many
inftances, frequently migrating into a foft
toadftone. On the weft fide of the ifland,
the cliffs adjoining the fea have a columnar
appearance.
I flopped at a houfe at Lagan, a tolerably
good inn: they are very civil people,
and the hoftefs fpoke Englifh: they
rent the ifle of Staffa, and accommodated
me with a boat and neceffaries for the
voyage. In vifiting Staffa, I did not perceive
much danger, the wefterly winds
often