DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61904#0055
IONA, OR ICOLMKILL.
43
are to be feen here and there, fome of them now converted
into grave-ftones. Amongft the moft curious fculptures re-
maining, are Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit under
the tree, on St. Martin’s crofs, which is eight feet high, com-
pofed of the red granite of the ifland, as are alfo the carved
pavement of St. Oran’s chapel, efpecially that of fome fingular
bells, and the grotefque fcenes carved on the capitals of the
pillars in the cathedral.
The deftrudtion here, in which the original erections of the
Primitive Britifh church have fuffered for being found in
connexion with the additions of their Romifh fucceffors, are
greatly to be regretted, efpecially when we obferve the mas-
terly ftyle of the fculpture, the fingular ftories indicated in
fome of the carving on the walls, and the unique and beau-
tiful foliage and flowers with which the tombs are adorned
by the chifel, which cannot be feen without a lively admiration.
No time of itfelf could have deftroyed them ; for they are
moftly of the red granite, or fyenite, of which the rocks and
iflets around confift; and are enclofed by low walls of the fame
ftone, rounded into great pebbles by the fea.
The wild and defolate afpect of the place ftrongly imprefs
on the vifitor the perils and perfecutions of thofe favage times,
which drove the profeflbrs of the Chriftian faith to fuch a
ftony wildernefs, amid the bowlings of thefe northern feas.
The prefent inhabitants of the ifland are exceedingly poor and
ignorant. As you draw near the coaff, you behold a low
bleak fhore, backed by naked hills, and at their feet a row of
miferable Highland huts : and at feparate intervals the ruins of
the monaftery and church of Ronad, the church of St. Oran
and its burying-ground, and laftly, the cathedral raifes its fquare,
red, folemn bulk. You are immediately on landing furrounded
by little children offering pebbles of green ferpentine, which
43
are to be feen here and there, fome of them now converted
into grave-ftones. Amongft the moft curious fculptures re-
maining, are Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit under
the tree, on St. Martin’s crofs, which is eight feet high, com-
pofed of the red granite of the ifland, as are alfo the carved
pavement of St. Oran’s chapel, efpecially that of fome fingular
bells, and the grotefque fcenes carved on the capitals of the
pillars in the cathedral.
The deftrudtion here, in which the original erections of the
Primitive Britifh church have fuffered for being found in
connexion with the additions of their Romifh fucceffors, are
greatly to be regretted, efpecially when we obferve the mas-
terly ftyle of the fculpture, the fingular ftories indicated in
fome of the carving on the walls, and the unique and beau-
tiful foliage and flowers with which the tombs are adorned
by the chifel, which cannot be feen without a lively admiration.
No time of itfelf could have deftroyed them ; for they are
moftly of the red granite, or fyenite, of which the rocks and
iflets around confift; and are enclofed by low walls of the fame
ftone, rounded into great pebbles by the fea.
The wild and defolate afpect of the place ftrongly imprefs
on the vifitor the perils and perfecutions of thofe favage times,
which drove the profeflbrs of the Chriftian faith to fuch a
ftony wildernefs, amid the bowlings of thefe northern feas.
The prefent inhabitants of the ifland are exceedingly poor and
ignorant. As you draw near the coaff, you behold a low
bleak fhore, backed by naked hills, and at their feet a row of
miferable Highland huts : and at feparate intervals the ruins of
the monaftery and church of Ronad, the church of St. Oran
and its burying-ground, and laftly, the cathedral raifes its fquare,
red, folemn bulk. You are immediately on landing furrounded
by little children offering pebbles of green ferpentine, which