Sanda

   1) SANDA, an island, in the parish of Southend, district of Cantyre, county of Argyll; containing 11 inhabitants. This is a small island, lying near the outer extremity of the peninsula of Cantyre, and measuring about a mile and a half in length and half a mile in breadth; its name is of Scandinavian origin, and signifies "Sand Island." It possesses a good natural harbour, although between the island and the main land the sea is extremely turbulent and dangerous, and for two or three months in the year the place cannot be approached by a small boat. Sanda was a common station for the Scandinavian fleets during the contests so long carried on for the possession of Cantyre and the neighbouring islands. There yet exist here the ruins of an old chapel dedicated to St. Columba. On the east side of the island are two islets covered with excellent pasture; and about a league to the south is a dangerous sunken rock, a mile in circumference, called Paterson's rock.

   See Southend.

   2) SANDA, an island, in the county of Orkney, 16 miles (N. E. by N.) from Kirkwall; containing 1892 inhabitants. This island, which is situated between the island of North Ronaldshay and that of Stronsay, the latter lying to the south, is bounded on the west by the Atlantic Ocean, and on the north and east by North Ronaldshay Frith, which is about seven miles broad. It is twelve miles in length, and of extremely irregular form, varying from half a mile to nearly three miles in breadth. The coasts are indented on all sides with numerous spacious bays, of which the principal are the bay of Osterwick on the north, and that of Kettletoft on the south; and numerous bold headlands project into the friths, of which the most prominent are, Whitemill and Taftsness to the north, the Start and Tressness to the east, and Elsness and Spurness to the south. The island comprises the two parishes of Cross and Lady, which are described under their respective heads.