SARK, or Serk, a small island about 6 miles eastward of Guernsey, within whose jurisdiction it is included; containing 785 inhabitants. This district, which is supposed to be that mentioned in the Itinerary of Antoninus under the name Sarnica, was early noted for the convent of St. Maglorius, a British Christian who, fleeing with many others from the persecutions of the Pagan Saxons into Armorica, was made Bishop of Dol, and first planted Christianity in these parts, about the year 565. Few other events of interest are recorded in connexion with the island: in 1565, Queen Elizabeth granted it in fee-farm, by letters-patent under the great seal, to Hilary de Carteret, Esq., by the twentieth part of a knight's fee. The surface of Sark is a high table-land, rising a little towards the west, and no where having a declivity to the sea, except a trifling descent at the northern extremity. At one part called the Coupée, it is nearly divided into two portions, being connected only by a high and narrow ridge not many yards wide. The cliffs, which are from 200 to 300 feet in height, are so abrupt on the western side, that the largest ship may approach very near them without danger; but the eastern shore is beset with rocks running far out into the sea. The scenery is striking; that of the Port du Moulin, the descent to which is through a narrow pass, is uncommonly romantic. Such is the natural strength of the island, that although there are five landing-places, yet, except at what is called the Creux, where a tunnel was cut through the rock in 1588 by one of the De Carterets, scarcely any entrance is to be found without the difficulty of climbing. The high ridge, or isthmus, already mentioned, which joins the main island to the smaller portion of it called Petit Sark, is about 100 yards long, with a precipice immediately overhanging the sea on the eastern side; the passage on the western being in some places only three or four feet wide, and over broken rocks of terrific aspect. To the south of Petit Sark is an isolated rock called Etat, much resembling in shape the Mew-stone at Plymouth. On the coast is a funnel, 200 feet deep, and 100 feet in diameter at the surface, named Creux Terrible, similar in appearance to the Buller of Buchan, or Tol Pedn in Penwith, and near which is a spring of water, whose specific gravity is one-eighth less than that of any other water found in the island. There are also numerous picturesque caverns in the cliffs along the sea-shore.
The air is remarkably salubrious; and the soil, which is extremely fertile, affords every necessary article of produce for the inhabitants, particularly apples, from which excellent cider is made; also turnips, parsnips, potatoes, and other vegetables. Stockings, gloves, and waistcoats called Guernsey jackets, are exported to Bristol and some other western ports of England, various articles of domestic consumption being brought back in return. In 1835 a mine was opened containing copper, lead, and silver ore, which has been wrought at a cost of more than £30,000, but the returns are small, and scarcely remunerate the trouble and expense of the adventurers. A feudal court is held three times in the year, for the purpose of enacting by-laws for the island, which are in force when carried by a majority of the 40 tenants, and confirmed by the seignor. The chapel, dedicated to St. Peter, was erected in 1820, and consecrated by the Bishop of Winchester in 1829. The monastery founded by St. Maglorius, was still existing in the reign of Edward III. In 1719, an earthen pot, bound with an iron hoop, was discovered, containing eighteen Gallic coins of silver gilt.
