Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
two or three nights past they could see no trace of the Flannan light - a fact which was
communicated by telegraph to the Lighthouse Commissioners.
The Flannan or 'Flannel Isles' as they are called in the Statistical Account of Scot-
land, are rather interesting rocky islets, and are supposed to have been the residency
of eccclisiastics in the time of the Druids. They are called by Buchanan Insule Sacre.
ThereisatleastoneruinonEileanMohrofsomesmallecclesiasticalbuilding-known
as 'the Blessing Chapel' - just below the spot on which the lighthouse is now erected.
The islands, which are attached to the parish of Uig, are, as has already been stated, a
rocky cluster, seven in number, with narrow waterways between them. The total area
theycoverwouldbeabouttwomilesbyaquarterofamile,thelongwaybeingeastand
west. The largest of the group, Eilean Mohr [sic], is barely a quarter of a mile across.
The cliffs are of gneiss. Nearly all the members of the group have this in common that
their sides are precipitous. Formerly, a few sheep belonging to people on the main-
land were grazed on the islands, but that has been given up for many years. M'Culloch
speaks of the islands of being a great resort for sea birds but people who lately visited
them say that in that respect there is nothing very remarkable about them. In connec-
tion with what has been said as to the association of the Druids with this lovely group
of rocky islands, it may be recalled that at Callernish, near the head of Loch Roag, are
the celebrated Druidical standing stones - forming one of the most complete remains
of the kind in the Kingdom, while at the neighbouring township of Carloway is one
of the largest and most perfect Danish forts or domes to be met in Scotland. It was on
the sands of the bay of Uig in 1831 that a number of small Ivory sculptured figures,
resembling chessmen, were found, and being of great antiquity, were transferred to the
Antiquarian Society of Edinburgh.
17
The
Scotsman
'saccountthencontinuesundertheheading'AnOldAccountoftheFlan-
nan Islands' which is taken from Martin Martin's writings:
InMartinMartin'svolume'ADescriptionoftheWesternIslesofScotland'dated1695,
achapterisdevotedto'InferiorIslands'adjacenttoLewis.Dealingwiththesubjectthe
writer says:
Near to the north-west promontory of Carlway Bay, called Gallan-Head, are the little
islands of Pabbay, Shirem, Vaxay, Wuya the Great and Lesser. To the north-west of
Gallan-Head,andwithinsixleagueofit,lietheFlannanIslands,whichtheseamencall
North Hunters; they are but small islands and six in number, and maintain about sev-
enty sheep yearly. The inhabitants of the adjacent lands of the Lewis, having a right to
these islands, visit them once every summer, and there make a great purchase of fowls,
