Ossian Collection > Journey to the western islands of Scotland

WESTERN ISLANDS, &c. 341
Our light fliowed no tokens of a feculent
or corrupted atmofphere. Here was a
fquare ftone, called, as we are told, Fin-
gal''s Table,
If we had been provided with torches,
we fhould have proceeded in our fearch,
though we had already gone as far as any-
former adventurer, except fome who are
reported never to have returned ; and,
meafurlng our way back, we found it more
than a hundred and fixty yards, the ekventh
part of a mile.
Our meafures were not critically exadt,
having been made with a walking pole, fucli
as it is convenient to carry in thefe rocky
countries, of which I gueffed the length by
ftanding againft it. In this there could be
no great errour, nor do I much doubt but
the Highlander, whom we employed, re-
ported the number right. More nicety
however is better, and no man fhould tra-
Z 3 vel