Scotland/Scots > Black's picturesque tourist of Scotland

IONA THE CATHEDRAL.
have abandoned these rocky shores to the cormorant and the
seagull.*
This island, known by the three names of Hii or I, pro¬
nounced ee, Iona, and Icolmkill), is about three miles in length,
and one in breadth, being placed nearly in a north-easterly
direction. Its eastern coast is separated from Mull by a
narrow sound, about a mile in width, which, although obstructed
by a partial shoal, affords passage with a leading wind to large
ships navigating these seas. The western side is beset with
numerous small islands and rocks: many are also scattered
about its northern and southern extremities. The green
island of Soa is one of these, and stretches to sea at a consi¬
derable distance on the south.
The surface of Iona is low, rising into numerous irregular
elevations, which seldom exceed 100 feet. Its highest hill
may be about 400, and is situated at the northern extremity
of the island. The coast is, for the most part, indented by
small rocky bays divided by similar promontories ; but at
the north-western side it presents one large plain terminating
in a flat shore of sand chiefly composed of broken shells.
* M'Culloch’s Western Islands.
2 H