After having rambled through the mountains and glens of Argyle,
we visited the adjacent islands of Ila, Jura, Mull, and Icomkill.
In the first, we saw the remains of a castle, built in a lake,
where Macdonald, lord or king of the isles, formerly resided.
Jura is famous for having given birth to one Mackcrain, who lived
one hundred and eighty years in one house, and died in the reign
of Charles the Second. Mull affords several bays, where there is
safe anchorage: in one of which, the Florida, a ship of the
Spanish armada, was blown up by one of Mr Smollett's ancestors --
About forty years ago, John duke of Argyle is said to have
consulted the Spanish registers, by which it appeared, that this
ship had the military chest on board -- He employed experienced
divers to examine the wreck; and they found the hull of the
vessel still entire, but so covered with sand, that they could
not make their way between decks; however, they picked up several
pieces of plate, that were scattered about in the bay, and a
couple of fine brass cannon.
Icolmkill, or Iona, is a small island which St Columba chose for
his habitation -- It was respected for its sanctity, and college or
seminary of ecclesiastics -- Part of its church is still standing,
with the tombs of several Scottish, Irish, and Danish sovereigns,
who were here interred -- These islanders are very bold and
dexterous watermen, consequently the better adapted to the
fishery: in their manners they are less savage and impetuous than
their countrymen on the continent; and they speak the Erse or
Gaelick in its greatest purity.
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