Page:Three Years in Europe.djvu/89

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SCOTLAND.
63

splendid arch 70 feet high, supporting an intablature of 30 feet additional,—its dark basaltic pillars, its arching roof above and the sea ever and anon rushing and roaring below,—is a most wonderful sight indeed. The sea being calm we went in a boat to the inner end of the cave. The walls consist of countless gigantic columns, sometimes square, often pentagonical and hexagonical, and of a dark purple color which adds to the solemnity of the aspect of the place. The roof itself consists of overhanging pillars; and every time that the waves come in with a roaring sound, the roof, the caverns and the thousand pillars return the sound increased tenfold, and the effect is imposing.

Before we left Oban we saw Dunolly Castle, now all in ruins, about which Sir W. Scott says, that "a more delightful and romantic spot can scarcely be conceived;" as well as the ruins of the Dunstaffnage castle, situated on a bold rock, about three or four miles from Oban, which is said to have been the seat of the Scottish monarchy until the overthrow of the Picts.

On the 5th we left Oban and went by steamer to Glencoe, the scene of the terrible massacre in the reign of William III. Glencoe.We passed by the spot where the massacre was perpetrated, and reached a most magnificent glen with stupendous mountains on both sides of us. On the 6th we left Glencoe, and sailing through Loch Eil, we reached Banvie, four miles to the north of Fort William. Ben Nevis.From that place we saw the magnificent Ben Nevis, about 4,400 feet high, being