Scotland/Scots > Black's picturesque tourist of Scotland

BOAT CAVE—MACKINNON’S CAVE.
decided enlargement of diameter. The appearance of those
which surround the entrance is exceedingly remarkable ; on
one side they are bent so as to form a series of ribs, which have
been aptly compared to an inside view of the timbers of a ship.
On the other side, the wall which leads into the cave is consti¬
tuted by the ends of columns, having a resemblance to the
surface of a honey comb. The longest series of the bent
columns has that twist which mathematicians call a double
curvature, the incurvation lying in two planes ; and a small
series is seen at the bottom, with their convexities opposed to
those of the upper one, which are turned obliquely downwards.
It is difficult, from the gradual manner in which this cave
commences, to determine on a point whence to measure its
dimensions. It may be said, however, to be thirty feet in
height, and sixteen or eighteen in breadth ; its length being
130 feet, and the lateral dimensions gradually contracting to
its termination. The inside is rude, irregular, and without
interest. Immediately beyond this cave the columns become
straight, although irregularly placed ; their broken ends form¬
ing a rude stair.
A steep wooden stair has been erected to enable tourists to
ascend the rock and enjoy the view from the top, and with this
terminate the objects which can be seen in the limited time
the tourist has at his disposal. There are other two caves to
the west of FingaTs, called the Boat Cave and Mackinnon’s,
both of which, however, are but rarely visited.
The Boat Cave is so called, probably because it is accessible
only by sea. However insignificant in dimensions, it is far
from being so in picturesque effect, since the symmetry of the
columnar range in that part of the face under which it lies is
even greater than near the cave of Fingal. Its height is from
fourteen to sixteen feet above the high water, the undulation
of the sea preventing greater precision in the measurement,
and its breadth is twelve feet. The roof and sides are smooth,
and the whole interior presents a long parallel opening like the
gallery of a mine, without interest or beauty, the length of
which is about 150 feet.
Mackinnon’s Cave, the westernmost of the three, lies in the
great south-western face, and is also known by the name of The
Scart or Cormorant’s Cave. It is easy of access from the water,