SANDA, an island, in the parish of Southend, district
of Cantyre, county of Argyll; containing 11
inhabitants. This is a small island, lying near the outer
extremity of the peninsula of Cantyre, and measuring
about a mile and a half in length and half a mile in
breadth. Its name is of Scandinavian origin, and signifies
"sand island." Here is a good natural harbour,
but between the island and the main land the sea is
extremely turbulent and dangerous, and for two or three
months in the year the place cannot be approached by
a small boat. Sanda was a common station for the
Scandinavian fleets during the contests so long carried
on for the possession of Cantyre and the neighbouring
islands. There yet exist here the ruins of an old chapel
dedicated to St. Columba. On the east side of the island
are two islets covered with excellent pasture; and about a
league to the south is a dangerous sunken rock, a mile in
circumference, called Paterson's rock. See Southend.