The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

NORTHERN SCOTLAND. 861
and rising like a temple above a foundation of rock, in which are embedded the
petrified remains of a forest of pines. The sands at the foot of this Scuir
occasionally give forth a long-drawn musical sound when walked upon—
phenomenon similar to what may be witnessed on some beaches of Pomerania, in
the desert of Atacama, and on the slopes of Mount Sinai.*
The large island of Mull, separated by the Sound of Mull and the Firth of
Lome from the mainland of ArgyU, is almost wholly formed of volcanic rocks,
which occasionally rise in regular steps. Numerous rivulets, born in the interior
of the island, and fed by its plentiful moisture, hasten towards the sea, and form
foaming cataracts on their onward course. Ben More (3,172 feet), the great
Fig. 175.—The Exterior of Fingai.'s Cave.
lountain of the island, as well as the principal summits along the Soimd of
•lull, con.sists of trap ; but the south-western arm of the island terminates in
n enormous promontory of granite, the qiiarries on the face of which look like
aere scratches when seen from afar. On the western side of Mull lies the famous
sland of Staffa, whose cave, discovered, as it were, by Sir Joseph Banks in 1772,
ias been dedicated by the admirers of Ossian to Fingal. This cavern deservedly
anks amongst the wonders of the world. The island rises to a height of about
50 feet. Its surface is covered with luxuriant grass, and on all sides it is
onnded by clifis of columnar basalt. On turning round a cape we suddenly
* Hugh Miller, " Summer Rambles among the Hebrides."
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