Volume 3 - Electric Scotland

376 NORTH-EAST COAST.
cipice, but long since separated by the injuries of time.
Those immense masses of rock assume the various shapes
of pinnacles and towers; and, being irregularly placed,
form numerous striking combinations with the cliffs by
which they are backed, and with the more distant scenery.
Entangled among them, you may wander as in a labyrinth of
gigantic buildings; catching, at different points, glimpses
of the blue sea far below, of the distant islands, and of
the misty mountains of the mainland. Often, when the
clouds sailed along and rested on the high point of the
Storr, the forms of walls, turrets, and spires, were seen
emerging from the driving mist, as a casual breeze arose ;
while again, as the summits became entangled in the
drift, they seemed to rise to unknown and imaginary
heights, like the visionary architecture of the supernatu-
ral inhabitants of the clouds. Of those detached masses,
the pinnacle called the Pote Storr is by far the most re-
markable; rising to a height estimated at 160 feet, aud,
but for a slight degree of curvature, resembling in its
proportions a steeple of Gothic architecture. The effect
of this insulated rock is very striking : no less from its
height, its independence, and the elegance of its form,
than from the combinations which it produces with the
surrounding scenery, to the wild and gigantic architec-
tural character of which it is so admirably adapted. It
forms a sea-mark on this coast, well known to mariners.
It might have formed a splendid Monolith for the wor-
ship of Hindostan. It is lucky that Toland had never
heard of it. The whole of these cliffs produce abundant
and brilliant specimens of minerals highly esteemed by
mineralogists ; and, most particularly, of Chabasite, with
which they are absolutely filled.
To the north of Ru na Braddan, the cliffs are frequently
columnar, and often extend in long ranges for many
miles, with an air of architectural regularity as perfect in