Ossian Collection > Journey to the western islands of Scotland

WESTERN ISLANDS, ^c, 549
That thefe edifices are of different ages
feems evident. The arch of the firft church
is Roman, heing part of a circle ; that of the
additional building is pointed, and there-
fore Gotbick, or Saracenical; the tower is
firm, and wants only to be floored and
covered.
Of the chambers or cells belonging to the
monks, there are fome walls remaining,
but nothing approaching to a complete
apartment.
The bottom of the church is fo incum-
bered with mud and rubbifh, that we could
make no difcoveries of curious infcriptions,
and what there are have been already
publifhed. The place is faid to be known
where the black flones lie concealed, on
which the old Highland Chiefs, when they
made contrads and alliances, ufed to take
the oath, which was confidered as more
facred than any other obligation, and v»/hlch
could