Volume 3 - Electric Scotland

ARMAD.VLF..
* 421
DO place, perhaps, in the entire wurld, outdoes Sky,
which is, indeed, in every sense, a mine of knowledge in
this science.
Though the interior of Sleat is a rude moorland, the
eastern coast displays a continued succession of tolerably
good Highland farming, with occasional ash trees skirt-
ing the shores, on the sheltered sides of the rivulets and
ravines; while it also affords fine views of the noble and
picturesque screen of hills that forms the opposite main-
land. Loch Oransa is an excellent harbour, and Mr.
Macdonald's shop of all trades and wares will supply
whatever can be required to repair the worn-out traveller.
The island furnishes rare minerals to the mineralogist,
and rare crabs to the crabologist. They are not the m orst
of this genus which crawl blue into the basket at night,
and are found red on the breakfast table the next morn-
ing. The Castle of Knock was probably of importance in
former days. The position is strong, on a high sea pro-
montory ;
but what remains of the building does not re-
tain any great marks of strength. Armadale, which is
the only other point worth noticing, cannot be called pic-
turesque, as the land is without features. The view of
the opposite mountains is, however, fine. The progress
and beauty of the plantations serve to demonstrate, that,
of the two main requisites to success, Nature would, in
very many places, do her duty, if man would but perform
bis. When you intend to build, says Cato, deliberate
long; and then it is often likely that you will not build
at all. When planting is in question, do not deliberate
a moment. If the success of the plantations at Armadale
prove that the latter maxim has been duly followed and
duly rewarded, that of the new castle will also prove,
that, of the two main requisites to castle building, it is
in vain for the owner to furnish liberality, if his architect
cannot supply taste. It would be a pro])lem to ascertain