DANIELL, William (1769-1837)
Gribune Head, in Mull

© National Library of Scotland.
William Daniell image supplied by the National Library of Scotland for use in the LEMA Project.

[Plate 41]

Gribune Head

"...In sailing from this isle [Inchkenneth] to the north-eastward up Loch-na-gal, the mountain, already mentioned still continued to be one of the most prominent features of the coast of Mull; its aspect, as beheld from the sea, is represented in the view here given, entitled GRIBUNE HEAD. The neighbouring isle is that of Inchkenneth. The smoke, arising from the burning of kelp at its base, tended, as in other instances, to render the rocky masses more picturesque, by veiling their asperities in partial obscurity; less impressive, it must be owned, than the gloom of a tempest, which augments so highly the grandeur of this scene. At such a period, the dashing of the furious ocean below, and the fall of the swollen torrents from the rocks above, seen dimly through the mist, are said to produce. An effect uncommonly sublime; but to voyagers along the shore there was no great pain. In being disappointed, by favourable weather, of so exalted an enjoyment. Of the boats represented in the view, the one bearing the flag has a party of visitors to Staffa on board, the others are in pursuit of fish. The presence of a shoal of herrings is indicated by the appearance of some of those small whales, already mentioned, in the position in which those animals are so frequently seen, the dorsal fins appearing above the surface of the water. In the pursuit of their prey they are usually attended by flocks of sea-birds, which hover over their course to pick up the refuse of their victims. This circumstance is here introduced as characteristic of the Hebridean seas."

Source: Extract from DANIELL, William. A Voyage Round Great Britain [1813-1823].

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