The views of the islands change remarkably,
according to the state of the tide. At high-water
the islands are separated by wide stretches of sea,
while at the ebb extensive flats are uncovered, and
some of the islands are apparently joined. The
Crow Channel between S. Mary's and S. Martin's
Isles has been forded on horseback, and a man is
reported to have ridden from S. Mary's to Tresco,
fording the arms of the sea at low spring-tide.
S. Martin's Island is difficult of approach at low tide from S. Mary's by boat on account of the distance to which the sands run out.
Such an archipelago was exactly suited to the requirements of the Celtic saints, who, if they spent most of their time in superintendence of their monasteries, retired for Lent to solitary places, and as they grew old resigned their pastoral staves to their coarbs (successors), and retreated to islets, there to prepare for the great change. The west coast of Ireland is studded with islets that still retain the cells of these solitaries. Wales had its Bardsey and Anglesea, and Caldey and Ramsey. And what these were to Irish and Welsh the Scilly group was to the saints of Cornwall. Thus we find there S. Elid, the Welsh S. Illog, S. Teon, who is the Euny of Lelant, S. Samson, and S. Warna.
I do not know that any of the remains of their venerable oratories have been found, but then they have not been looked for.
There are now churches on four of the isles.
There are three lighthouses—that of S. Agnes, a revolving light; that on an outlying rock, the
