MULL-ISLE-OF, an island, in the county of Argyll; containing
10,064 inhabitants. This forms one of the Hebrides,
or Western Islands, of which it ranks as the
third in extent. It originally constituted part of the
dominions of the ancient Lords of the Isles, who, holding
their territories under the Kings of Norway, exercised a
kind of sovereignty independent of the Scottish mouarchs,
•with whom they were frequently at war. In 1480, a sanguinary
battle took place in a bay at the northern extremity
of the island, since then called Bloody Bay, between
Angus, Lord of the Isles, and the Earls of Crawford and
Huntly, and others, in which the latter were defeated
with great slaughter. In 1588 the Florida, a vessel belonging
to the Spanish Armada, was blown up in the
harbour of Tobermory, on the northern coast; and parts
of the wreck have at various times been met with. An
attempt to raise this vessel was made in 1740 by Sir
Archibald Grant and Captain Roe, but without success,
though they obtained several of her guns; timbers have
been since discovered, and some of the wood thus found
was presented by Sir Walter Scott to George IV., on that
monarch's visiting Edinburgh in 18'22. Archibald, ninth
Earl of Argyll, having joined in the rebellion of the Duke
of Monmouth, in the early part of tlie reign of James II.,
landed with his followers at the bay of Tobermory, or, as
some accounts say, on the coast of Cantyre, in another
part of the county, in an unsuccessful attempt to invade
Scotland; and, being afterwards made prisoner, was sent
to Edinburgh, where he was publicly executed.
The ISLAND is bounded on the north and east by the
sound of Mull, whidi separates it from the main land,
and on the south and west by the Atlantic Ocean. It is
about thirty-five miles in extreme length and twenty
miles in breadth, comprising an area of nearly 480 square
miles. The form of tlie island is extremely irregular,
it being deeply indented, especially on the western coast,
with arms of the sea, of which Loch-na-Keal divides it
into two irregular peninsulas, connected by an isthmus
not more than four miles in breadth, between Loch-na-
Keal on the west and the sound of Mull on the east. In
some parts towards the coast the surface is tolerably
level, containing small tracts of arable land; but in the
interior, mountainous and diversified, with lofty hills of
rugged aspect. Many of the mountains rise to a height
of more than 2000 feet; and the highest, licnmorc, which
is of easy ascent and occasionally visited by tourists, has
an elevation of .'i068 feet above the level of the sea, com-
manding from its summit an unbounded and interesting
view o*" the Atlantic, and of the numerous islands oflF
the coast. There are some inland lakes, but none of
any considerable extent; the largest is Loch Frisn, in
the northern part of the island, from which issues the
rivulet of Arcs Water, flowing eastward into the sound
of Mull. From the smaller lochs of Ba and Uisk, also,
flow several streamlets; but there are no rivers of any importance.
The COAST, from its numerous indentations, is nearly
300 miles in extent. At its northern extremity is
Bloody Bay, already noticed, to the south-east of which
is the harbour of Tobermory, sheltered from the sound
by Calve island, at its entrance; and still further southeast
is Aros Castle, an ancient quadrangular structure
situated on the summit of a boldly-projecting headland,
and in the vicinity of which was formerly an inn for the
accommodation of travellers visiting the isle of Staffa.
Visiters to Staffa and lona now go by steamers. Near
the south-eastern extremity of the coast, between the
bay of Mc Alister and Loch Don, on a promontory, are
the remains of the castle of Dowart, the old baronial residence
of the Macleans, and tiU within the last few
years garrisoned by a detachment from Fort-William.
On the south side of Mull is Loch Spelve, which, from a
small inlet at its entrance, divides into two spacious
branches: in the eastern of these is an island. Along
the whole southern coast, forming part of the Ross of
Mull, the only bay of any extent is Loch Buy, in which
are two small islands, and from the mouth of which,
westward, to the sound of Icolmkill, the indentations are
formed by conspicuous headlands, whereof Eglish-na-
Braren and Ardalanish point are the most prominent.
West of the Ross of Mull is the island of Icolmkill or
loiia, separated from Mull by the sound of Icolmkill; it
is about three miles in length and one mile in breadth,
and celebrated for its early monastic importance. The
Ross is bounded on the north by Loch f<cridain, which
deeply indents the island, separating the Ross from the
district of Gribun, where the mountain of Benmore
rises; and still more to the north is Loch-na-Keal, the
arm of the Atlantic before named, extending inland eastward
towards the sound of Mull, from which it is divided
by the isthmus connecting the two peninsulas of Mull.
Near Loch-na-Keal is the island of Staffa, about one
mile in length and half a mile in breadth, remarkable
for its basaltic columns and its romantic caverns; and
at the entrance of the loch are, the island of Little
Colonsay, having pasturage for sheep and cattle, and, to
the east, the fertile island of Inniskenncfh and the isle
of Eorsa. Between Loch-na-Keal, and Loch Tua to the
north, are the islands of Gometray and lllva, separated
from each other by a narrow sound, and affording good
pasture for cattle; and near the mouth of Loch Tua are
the Trcshinish isles, of which the principal are Lunga
and I'ladda. Beyond these, to the north-west, are the
large islands of Va>\\ and Tiree.
The son. of the arable lands is in general rich and
deep, i)rodu( ing favoural)le crops; but the island is
priiici|)ally adapted for the i)asturage of sheep and cattle,
of whicii great numbers are reared, and sent to the various
southern markets. For the most part the sheep are
of the Tweeddale breed, which has been substituted for
the Old Highland, formerly reared; but on the lowland
pastures are n)any of the Cheviot breed, which has been
introduced within the last few years. The black-cattle
are generally of the Highland breed; and the horses,
though small in stature, are much prized for hardiness,
strength and agility. The woods for which the island
was formerly celebrated have dwindled into a few coppices
of oak, birch, and hazel, to which little attention is
paid. Some recent plantations, however, of larch, fir,
and other trees, are in a thriving state; and in sheltered
situations are numerous ash-trees of luxuriant growth.
The rocks are chiefly composed of trap, sandstone, and
limestone, and those on the shores are of basaltic formation;
granite is also found in various parts of the island,
particularly in Ross, and coal has been discovered in several
places, especially in the bed of a rivulet near the base
of the mountain of Bein-an-inich, on the coast of Ross,
and at Brolas and Gribun. Attempts to work the coal
have been made at different times, but from want of
capital or adequate skill, the works were soon discontinued;
the coal is said to be of good quality. The island
comprises the parish of Kilfinichen and Kilviceuen, that
of Kilninian and Kilmore, and the parish of Torosay,
with the sea-port town of Tobermory, in the presbytery
of Mull and synod of Argyll. See the articles on the
several parishes, villages, and subordinate islands.