rocks runs across two-thirds of the channel, and occasions at certain periods of the ebbing or flowing tide, such a rapid current, that no vessel, with the freshest breeze, can stem it. In the beginning of the flood, the tide runs up with a boisterous rapidity, and at ebb it returns with a violence and noise unequalled by the loudest cataract. But there is sufficient depth of water, between the ridge of rocks and the land. on the west side, for vessels of any size or burden to pass and repass with safety, in the beginning of flood or ebb. There is a ferry here, and notwithstanding its alarming appearance, one of the safest in Scotland, as no accident has happened at it in the remembrance of any man living.

The sides of Loch Etie are pleasant; indented into creeks and bays, affording safe anchorage in any wind whatever; delightfully variegated with hill and dale, meadows and corn fields, wood and water. There are several salmon fisheries on its shores, and it abounds with small red cod and cuddies; and, in some seasons, a few herrings are caught in it. Seals are its constant inhabitants, and porpoises visit it in the latter end of April, and take leave of it about the close of July.

The tide flows six hours, and takes the same time to return; it runs from Connel in a SE. direction to Bonawe, and, after running along the north side of Cruachan-bean, bends its course NE. till it terminates in Glenetie, i. e. the valley of Eta, famous for being the residence of Usnath, father of Nathos, Althos, and Ardan; the first of whom ran away Darthula, wife of Conquhan (or Cairbar), king of

with

Ulster in Ireland, which is the subject of a beautiful poem of Ossian. Many places in and about the loch and valley of Eta confirm, beyond a possibility of doubt, that such people were once resident there. In particular a small island, with some vestiges of a house upon it, goes by the name of Elain Usnich, or the island of Usnath. There is also, in the farm of Dalness in Glenetie, a rock rising in the form of a cone, on the end of a high hill, commanding a romantic prospect, which to this day retains the name of Grianan Dearduil, the basking-place of Darthula."

Description of Morven and its Antiquities in the Presbytery of Mull, County of Argyle, by the Rev. Norman Mac Leod.*

"The modern name Morven, or Morvern, as it is more properly called, being the method of spelling it in ancient records, and much nearer the uniform pronunciation of the inhabitants, is plainly from the ancient Gaelic name Mor-Earran, i. e. great division, or lot. To those who are acquainted with the Gaelic language, it will appear evident, that the meaning of this name must be different from the word Mor Ven, as used in the poems of Ossian, where it is derived from the Gaelic words Mor Bheann, i. e. of the great mountains, and seems to have been a general term for the Highlands, or hilly country.

"The common notion is, that the whole Highlands. were the country of Fingal and his heroes, for in

* See Statistical Account of Scotland, Vol. X. p. 262 and 274.

every part thereof, as well as in this parish, there are names derived from them, and their achievements. The whole Highlands might justly be called Duthaich nam mor Bheann, or country of high hills; but a Highlander never gives that name to this parish, but calls it A mhor-earran.

"The principal antiquity is the ruin of a castle, at a farm called Ardterinish (possibly the Inishtore of Ossian), on the sound of Mull, where Macdonald of the Isles resided, and held his courts and parliaments. Vide Abercrombie's Life of James II.

"In different parts of the parish, especially along the coast of the sound of Mull, on elevated places, there are several circular buildings, commonly called druidical temples, or cairns. They are generally formed of large whinstones, inclosing a small spot of ground, of different diameters, none of them exceeding eight yards. The language principally spoken in the parish, is Gaelic; but of late years, by the advantages derived from schools, and the more general communication with the low country, the English language is more universally understood throughout the parish than formerly. Many names of places in this parish are of unknown, or uncertain derivations; others plainly of Gaelic or Celtic original. Thus, Innismore is the great brae; Port a baat, the boat creek; Fiunary, Fingal's shieling; Dunien, Fingal's fort or hill; Kemin, Fingal's steps or stairs. Dunien is a curious round rock, of considerable height, partly covered on the sides with a green sward, but of no easy ascent. On the top is an area of about one-eighth of an

acre, which

evidently appears to have been encircled with a wall; very few vestiges of which now remain, owing partly to the injuries of time, and partly to want of taste in the tenants formerly occupying the farm, who pulled down the stones, for domestic purposes, to save the trouble of quarrying.

"The den itself commands an extensive view, and was well chosen for a place of defence against flying party it lies on the farm of Fiunary, and is now part of the glebe. There is a water running by the foot of the hill, of a romantic appearance,. on account of its high banks and the number of its pools and cascades.

"The sloping braes on each side of this water, were formerly covered with a fine natural wood of oak and ash; of which nothing now remains but a little brushwood, a nuisance rather than a beauty to the place. Kemin, is steps in the form of a natural stair, pretty regular, in a rock, towards the top of a hill called Bein-eiden, mentioned in an old poem ascribed to Ossian; but whether this, or another of that name in Ireland, be the hill therein referred to, it is not pretended to say; Drimnin, the ridges, Ullin, the elbow, Stron, the nose; Achaharn, the field of cairns, Arginish, the shieling of good bedding for cattle, names of places very descriptive of their appearance or properties. The principal place of worship, and where the oldest church stands, is called Cill-collumkill, or cell of the famous Columbus of Iona. The other place of worship is Kiliunik, or cell of Winifred. Though the church is now removed to a little distance from it; at each of these there is a church

yard, or burying-ground, but now without any fence, though anciently their precincts were distinctly marked, and considered as sanctuaries."

Probable Conjectures respecting the Burial-places of FINGAL and OSSIAN.

Thomas Newte, Esq. in his Prospects and Observations on a Tour in England and Scotland,* speaking of that part of Glen Almon, which is next to Crief and the low country, accords with the description given by Daniel de Foe in his Tour, who says that the hollow through which the road passes from Crief to Inverness, is so narrow, and the mountains on each side so high, that the sun is seen but two or three hours in the longest day. Mr. Newte then continues to make the following interesting observations. “In that awful part of Glen Almon already mentioned, where lofty and impending cliffs, on either hand, make a solemn and almost perpetual gloom, is found Clachan-Ossian, or monumental stone of Ossian. It is of uncommon size, measuring seven feet and a half in length, and five feet in breadth. About fifty years ago, certain soldiers employed under General Wade, in making the military road from Stirling to Inverness, through the Highlands, raised the stone by large engines, and discovered under it a coffin full of burnt bones. This coffin consisted of four grey stones, which still remain, such as are mentioned in Ossian's Poems. Ossian's stone, with the four grey stones in which his bones are said

Edition in quarto, published in 1791, p. 228.