MULL, one of the western islands of Scotland, is in the county of Argyle, and is the third in point of magni tude. It is of a very irregular form, and so much in vaded by arms of the sea, that its circumference is above 300 miles, although its greatest diameter does not ex ceed 35. It is divided into three parishes, Kilfinichen, Kilninian, and Torosay ; of which the following was the population in 1811.
The superficial contents of the island are 420 square miles, or 210,000 Scotch acres.
The parish of Kilfinichen, generally called the parish of Ross, occupies the south-western part of the island, and extends 22 miles in length, and 12 in breadth. It in cludes the islands of Inchkenneth, Eorsa, and Icolmkill. It is in general barren and mountainous. The shores are bold and rocky, exhibiting in many places basaltic co lumns; and there arc good marble quarries in different parts of the parish. The kelp made annually varies from 70 to 120 tons.
The parish of Kilninian occupies the peninsula in the north-west part of the island, and extends about 12 miles in length, and 12 in breadth. It includes the inhabited isles of Ulva, Gomctra, Little Colonsa, and Staffa, and the uninhabited cluster called the Treshinish Isles. The parish is in general hilly ; but the arable land on the coast is tolerably good and fertile. This parish manu factures from 170 to 180 tons of kelp annually, at the ex pense of about 30s. per ton. There are five lakes in the parish, abounding with trout. Salmon are caught at the mouth of several of the rivulets. The town and harbours of Tobcrmory and Aros are in this parish.
•The parish of Torosay, or Pennygown, occupies the south-east side of the island, and stretches along the sound of Mull. It is about 12 miles wide in every di rection. Its general aspect is rugged and mountainous. The highest part of it, viz. Benmore, is 3097 feet, as determined barometrically by Dr. Macculloch, while Benychat, the highest bill next to it, is 2294. The parish is excellently adapted for sheep pasture. Castle Do wart, once the residence of the chief of the Macleans, stands on a lofty promontory, overhanging the Sound of Mull, and, till lately, was occupied as barracks for a small party of soldiers from Fort William, stationed here to check the smugglers. The parish contains sevetal
birch woods, annually cut for charcoal. There are some red deer in the mountainous parts of it.
The Duke of Argyle is the principal proprietor i:: Mull, the number of proprietors amounting to ahout 10. The Duke possesses nearly one half of the island.
The climate of Mull is remarkable for its extreme wetness. It is more subject to rain than any of the west ern islands, exceeding even in this respect Rum or Sky, which rank next to it. Dr. Macculloch ascribes this to the altitude of its own hills, and to that of the range which extends from Cruachan to Ben Nevis, which assists in precipitating the clouds that arrive from the western ocean. From its being immediately open to the sea, it receives with undiminished energy gales of wind and rain, of which the inhabitants of better climates can scarcely form a conception.
The principal town and harbours in Mull, are Tober mory and Aros. 'Fobermory (St. Mary's Well) was begun in 1789, under the auspices of the Society for the Encouragement of Manufactoi ies and Fisheries. A cus tom-house and post-office were built in 1791, and many good houses of stone and lime, and covered with slate, have been since erected. It has of late increased in popu lation, and now contains about 600 inhabitants. It has a fine bay and harbour, sheltered from the ocean by the Isle of Calve. It had, in 1810, 11 registered vessels, manned by 29 men, and amounting to 278 tons burden ; and there are, besides, 28 open boats, with three men each, which are commonly employed in the fishery. The village has therefore 113 seamen. In 1808, the number of vessels which entered inwards was 58, and those which cleared out 70. There is also a harbour at Aros, and near it a picturesque old castle, which is said to have belonged to the Lord of the Isles. The castle of Moy, situated in Loch Buy, is another of the antiquities of Mull. It is very entire, and forms a fine contrast with the modern excellent mansion-house which stands near it. See M'Donald's Agricultural Survey of the Hebrides, p. 669. Edin. 1811; Smith's Agricultural Report of Argyleshire, Loud. 1813; and Dr. Macculloch's Description of the ll'est errt i. p. 530, 537, and vol. iii. p.73. Edin. 1819.