Volume 3 - Electric Scotland

470 LOCH SCAVIC,
that, even in the clearest atmosphere, they are marked
by a stormy and livid tint; the more conspicuous from
its contrast with the pale and reddish hues of the neigh-
bouring mountains. But when, indeed, the atmosphere
begins to lour and the clouds collect round their high
peaks, a deep abyss appears opened among them, dark,
uncertain, and mysterious. But it is in the time of the
storm, when wrapt " in whirlwinds and the northern
blast," that their effects ought to be seen. It will be the
fortune of the traveller, indeed, to see them much oftener
thus clothed with the tempest, than projected in all their
rugged nakedness on the blue sky. Being the first high
land to the westward, they collect every mist as it arrives
and, as the clouds begin to heap themselves round their
summits, curling and twisting in all the variety of dim
reflected lights, the most tremendous squalls blow from
them in every direction, blackening the surface of the
sea around, while the neighbouring land is deluged with
rain. These effects are frequent, even when all the sur-
rounding country is enjoying fair weather; and thus the
Cuchullin becomes the fertile parent of the storms which
render this coast so formidable to vessels, and produce
almost perpetual winter in the adjoining district of
Strathaird.
Sky must indeed be the veritable Isle de Ruach,
where the people eat and drink nothing but wind, and live
in weather-cocks. Even Edinburgh is a land of vernal
zephyrs in comparison. Dr. Johnson remarks, of Coll
I believe, that the noise of the wind was all its own. I
suppose the Doctor was thinking of Lucretius ; " Ventus
ut amittit vires, nisi robore densae occurrunt silvae," and
so on. But Lucretius is right, and the Doctor is wrong
for the noise he heard was that of the wind against the
rocks ; and if any one is inclined to doubt whether it can
make a noise without trees, let him come hither. Here
; ;