s, some of which I picked up for their glossy
beauty, and two covered with a little earth and grass, on which Sir Allan
has a few sheep. I doubt not but when there was a college at Inch
Kenneth, there was a hermitage upon Sandiland.

Having wandered over those extensive plains, we committed ourselves again
to the winds and waters; and after a voyage of about ten minutes, in
which we met with nothing very observable, were again safe upon dry
ground.

We told Sir Allan our desire of visiting Icolmkill, and entreated him to
give us his protection, and his company. He thought proper to hesitate a
little, but the Ladies hinted, that as they knew he would not finally
refuse, he would do better if he preserved the grace of ready compliance.
He took their advice, and promised to carry us on the morrow in his boat.

We passed the remaining part of the day in such amusements as were in our
power. Sir Allan related the American campaign, and at evening one of
the Ladies played on her harpsichord, while Col and Mr. Boswell danced a
Scottish reel with the other.

We could have been easily persuaded to a longer stay upon Inch Kenneth,
but life will not be all passed in delight. The session at Edinburgh was
approaching, from which Mr. Boswell could not be absent.

In the morning our boat was ready: it was high and strong. Sir Allan
victualled it for the day, and provided able rowers. We now parted from
the young Laird of Col, who had treated us with so much kindness, and
concluded his favours by consigning us to Sir Allan. Here we had the
last embrace of this amiable man, who, while these pages were preparing
to attest his virtues, perished in the passage between Ulva and Inch
Kenneth.

Sir Allan, to whom the whole region was well known, told us of a very
remarkable cave, to which he would show us the way. We had been
disappointed already by one cave, and were not much elevated by the
expectation of another.

It was yet better to see it, and we stopped at some rocks on the coast of
Mull. The mouth is fortified by vast fragments of stone, over which we
made our way, neither very nimbly, nor very securely. The place,
however, well repaid our trouble. The bottom, as far as the flood rushes
in, was encumbered with large pebbles, but as we advanced was spread over
with smooth sand. The breadth is about forty-five feet: the roof rises
in an arch, almost regular, to a height which we could not measure; but I
think it abou