y of New Kaye," says Dr. Paris, in an interesting memoir on
the subject, "that the most extensive formation of sandstone takes
place. Here it may be seen in different stages of induration, from a
state in which it is too friable to be detached from the rock upon which
it reposes, to a hardness so considerable, that it requires a violent
blow from a sledge-hammer to break it. Buildings are here constructed of
it; the church of Cranstock is entirely built with it; and it is also
employed for various articles of domestic and agricultural uses. The
geologist who has previously examined the celebrated specimen from
Guadaloupe will be struck with the great analogy which it bears to this
formation." Now, as vast tracts of the earth's surface,--in some parts
of the world, as in Northern Africa, millions of square miles
together,--are at present overlaid by accumulations of sand, which have
this tendency to consolidate and become lasting sub-aerial formations,
destined to occupy a place among the future strata of the globe, it
seems impossible but that also in the old geologic periods there must
have been, as now, sand-wastes and sub-aerial formations. And as the
representatives of these may still exist in some of our sandstone
quarries, it might be well to be possessed of a knowledge of the
peculiarities by which they are to be distinguished from deposits of
subaqueous origin. In order that I might have an opportunity of studying
these peculiarities where they are to be seen more extensively developed
than elsewhere on the eastern coast of Scotland, I here formed the
intention of spending a day, on my return south, among the sand-wastes
of Moray,--a purpose which I afterwards carried into effect. But of that
more anon.

On the following morning, availing myself of a kind invitation, through
Dr. Garson, from his brother, a Free Church minister resident in an
inland district of the Mainland, in convenient neighborhood with the
northern coasts of the island, and with several quarries, I set out
from Stromness, taking in my way the Loch and Standing Stones of
Stennis, which I had previously seen from but my seat in the mail-gig as
I passed. Mr. Learmonth, who had to visit some of his people in this
direction, accompanied me for several miles along the shores of the
loch, and lightened the journey by his interesting snatches of local
history, suggested by the various objects that lay along our
road,--buildings, tumuli, ancient battl