Part 33 of The Travels of Joseph Woods, Architect and Botanist, in 1809

Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition

The Travels of Joseph Woods, Architect and Botanist, in 1809 (Author: Joseph Woods)

entry 32

Not having made my arrangements the evening before I could not get away from [p. 129] Ross till about 12 o'clock accompanied by an excellent guide provided by the kindness of Mr. Martin. The Limestone varying into a black marble with bivalve shells continues to Oughterard. There are several natural bridges of Limestone in this part of the Country & the road passes over one of these. My principal object in this part of my excursion was to gather Erica Dabeoci¹⁵³ and Eriocaulon septanulare¹⁵⁴ and at Oughterard I hesitated whether [p. 130] to go to their known habitat towards Ballynahinch or direct my course to the tempting hollows of Firmnamore. I decided on the first expecting also to have an opportunity of exploring the pins which are said to be the highest mountains in this neighbourhood.

Oughterard is a pleasant village built in a Valley of Black marble at the foot of the granite hills. The first 2 miles are over a bog the rock occasionally starting thro the surface. In a part where rather more than usual is exposed I first gathered the beautiful Erica or rather Menziesia Dabeoci and felt the want of a companion to share my admiration. It grows

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plentifully [p. 131] further on mixed with the Heaths. The rest of the day's journey also the soil is peat, the road running by the side of winding lakes whose beautifully varied line of shore excited no small regret for their nakedness. Here are rock, mountain and water in great perfection — what a pity that the fourth ingredient of natural landscape should be wanting. By the roadside in one or two places a marble is found mixed with the granite and as it appeared to me united with it in the same rock — it affords the only lime the country produces beyond Oughterard.

In one of these winding lakes I gathered the Eriocaulon. It seems to delight in places where the lake has a bottom of soft and rotten peat which renders it very difficult of access. [p. 132] I slept at Lahy¹⁵⁵ by the side of a lake¹⁵⁶ at the foot of Shanafolo.