New-York daily tribune., 1843-10-26
into the mysteries Of the Grand Care of the
Giants CarscUay


basaltic columns standing side by side like ggan-
tic organ pipes, row upon row, and range beside
range. They have received various fantastic
names from their curious shapes and com5lna-
tons; such as the Giants Crown, his Grand
mother, his Child and It's Nurse, the Loom where
he wove his garters and the Basin where he washed
his hands.
At length we attain the finest spectacle oil all
in the East view of the Pleskin cliffs Majestic
is precisely the word for it. It's columns enclose
an amphitheatre, worthy TO look down on the
battles Of not merely nations against nations but
of worlds against worlds, and the triumphant
P;rxan of the victor might worthily be sounded
upon its organ-like pillars. The cliff rises per-
pendicularly for more than four hundred feet with
rows Of huted columns upon columns rising step
above step, up to the very top
Returning from Pleskin, we passed point.
whose broken and mutilatcd state is memorial
| of the Spanish armada. Part of that fleet ar
rived off this coast about twilight, and mlstook
this point forthe towers of Dunluce Castle. They
accordingly fired broadsidcs all night, and at last
one OF the ships weighed anchor and sailed on
ward to receive the expected surrender OF the gar
rison, but soon found themselves, instead, ashore
upon the rocks of Pleskin.
Finally VIC landed upon the real CauSeacdy,
which slopes down from the cliffs into and be
meath the sea, covering an area of twenty acres.
1t looks like the ruins of myriad Of Parthenons,
with each fragmentary column standing on end. A
characteristic though degrading likeness to pet
ty portion of it may be also found in the hexaao-
nal blocks ofa wooden pavement in 4 state of re,
pair, when they are piled above one another in
various rows and layers They here drop down
irregularly to different levels, but all stand up
right, and you walk over their tops. The nun
Der of their sides varies from three to nine, though
six is by far the most common. Each Joint IS
about foot long and foot and half across,
and has one end concave and the other convex,
though a very leware found with both ends alike
In composition and general structure, the cliffs
arc very analogous to the basalt OF the Hudson
river palisades, and, like them, have been poured
from some neighboring volcano. { any proof OF
this were needed at this day, it woul,d be found IN
the appearance of the whin dykes wh ich intersect
the Causeway Their sides have bee blackencd
by the melted basaltic lava against them, and the
change is less and less, as the distance from this
ancient heat increases. The only real peculiar
ty Of the Causeway is that the lava has had Its
ingredients so peculiarly proportloned and COM
bned, and have been elected from It's pare ut vol
cano under such unusual circumstances, as 10
crystaizc on cooling into its present re markablY
regular columns.
The inhabitants, however explain the matter |
much more POLITICALLY. They say that tn cir cham
pion, Fin McCool, the Giant, once UPON time
challenged his rival, Fin Gal, of Scotland TO set
tie their comparative prowess by pitched battle
probably the most ancient challenge to a duel
ON record. Fin McCooll was as unwilling as
cat to wet his feet, so ho began to build a cause
way, and Fin Gal also began his at Slatfa.--
They carried it out some ways into the sea, but
found the water began to grow too deep and
finally abandoned the undertaking. The COM
parative strength Of the Champions of Ireland and
Scotland is therefore still moot point. 1t IS to
be hoped that it may never again be contested
though wars have-ariscn from still more foolish |
causes.
The visitor to the Causeway is annoyed by |
crowds Of guides, and boys with specimens OF
minerals. They name their fossils with an accu
racy which surprised me, till found that they |
had had frequent visits from the distinguished
biologists, Buckland, sedgwick, &c. Each tres
TO offer some pee ular attraction, and one old
woman prcsides over curious arm chair, formed
by the columns, and which has a wonderful ma
gc power, invs ,uablc to desparing spnsters
Whoever sits do wn in it IS certain TO be married
in less than twelve months. rested myself III
it before I knew its terrible powers, but l still
trust, by dnt of Roman resolution, to escape the
fate predicted for me.
The day was passed in various explorations IN
the neighborhood under the guidance Of Alexan-
der Currie, who can be recommended as unusually
intelligent, civil and attentive, and who can be
depended upon as much AS any OF them. In his
book of recommendations are several names from
New-Y York. Those who desire columns from the
Causeway, obtain them through him.
4 moonlight drive past Dunuce Castle, but
without seeing the Banshec,' brought me back
TO Colcraine.
P S.-].hc famous island of Stqfa, the home
OF the Giant, Fin Gal, with his great cave, is of
ferec for sale. hasten to communicate to you
this e1cellep investment for the benefit some
OF your fa nkcc readers. But does it not seem
too absurd that there can be any individual pro-
perty IN s uch scenes We shall next have the
Falls OF Niagara sold at auction IN the Merchah's
zchs, lge But this Island of statfa az, IS 0fle5eu @
n a 3 lowing advertisement, which dlla' IS upoa
he .rlor;es of the scenery, which has been admired