hambers or cells belonging to the monks, there are some walls
remaining, but nothing approaching to a complete apartment.

The bottom of the church is so incumbered with mud and rubbish, that we
could make no discoveries of curious inscriptions, and what there are
have been already published. The place is said to be known where the
black stones lie concealed, on which the old Highland Chiefs, when they
made contracts and alliances, used to take the oath, which was considered
as more sacred than any other obligation, and which could not be violated
without the blackest infamy. In those days of violence and rapine, it
was of great importance to impress upon savage minds the sanctity of an
oath, by some particular and extraordinary circumstances. They would not
have recourse to the black stones, upon small or common occasions, and
when they had established their faith by this tremendous sanction,
inconstancy and treachery were no longer feared.

The chapel of the nunnery is now used by the inhabitants as a kind of
general cow-house, and the bottom is consequently too miry for
examination. Some of the stones which covered the later abbesses have
inscriptions, which might yet be read, if the chapel were cleansed. The
roof of this, as of all the other buildings, is totally destroyed, not
only because timber quickly decays when it is neglected, but because in
an island utterly destitute of wood, it was wanted for use, and was
consequently the first plunder of needy rapacity.

The chancel of the nuns' chapel is covered with an arch of stone, to
which time has done no injury; and a small apartment communicating with
the choir, on the north side, like the chapter-house in cathedrals,
roofed with stone in the same manner, is likewise entire.

In one of the churches was a marble altar, which the superstition of the
inhabitants has destroyed. Their opinion was, that a fragment of this
stone was a defence against shipwrecks, fire, and miscarriages. In one
corner of the church the bason for holy water is yet unbroken.

The cemetery of the nunnery was, till very lately, regarded with such
reverence, that only women were buried in it. These reliques of
veneration always produce some mournful pleasure. I could have forgiven
a great injury more easily than the violation of this imaginary sanctity.

South of the chapel stand the walls of a large room, which was probably
the hall, or refectory of the nunnery. This apartment is