Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
The Miseries and Beauties of Ireland (Author: Jonathan Binns)
chapter 17
Kilkee — Bog wood — Used instead of candles — Geology of the neighbourhood — Loss of "The Intrinsic" — Account of the shipwreck — Mr. Deane, the inventor of the new diving apparatus — Description of it — The Carrigheen moss — Clearness and beauty of the sea — Attractions of Kilkee and the neighbourhood — Ancient Rath — Belief in Fairies — Education thirty years since — Curraghs, or canoes — Farms and rents — Prices of produce — Wages of labourers — Early marriages — Advice to travellers — Miltown Malbay — The Hotel — The Spanish Armada — Principal proprietors in the neighbourhood of Miltown Malbay — Population and rents — Bright and beautiful morning — Birchfield, Mr. O'Brien's — The Cliffs of Moher — Extensive view — Inn at Lahinch — Interview with Thomas Steele at Ennis — The Jail — The Abbey — Return to Dublin — Sir William Betham — His researches on the subject of the ancient ring-money — Body of a man found in a bog — Conclusion.
Kilkee, a well-frequented bathing-place, is nine miles distant from Kilrush; the charge made by the Public Company for going there is only 1s.; whilst those having private cars charge five. The Company, besides what it has done in the direct sphere of its operations, has also assisted in making and improving the roads in the neighbourhood.
In going to Kilkee, some bogs are crossed,
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which contain an extraordinary quantity of wood — the stumps of large trees remaining above ground, as numerous and as close together, and most of them in the same position as in the days when they were portions of an extensive forest. They nearly all belong to the pine species, and the wood is so thoroughly impregnated with turpentine, that the shreds burn most brilliantly, and are substituted for candles. They are occasionally twisted into ropes. This wood makes an excessively hot fire, and kindles in a much shorter time than any other combustible in use; the roots are chiefly applied to this purpose — the stem, which is too valuable, being used for building. When the wood is of length sufficient for this purpose, it is uniformly found lying horizontally. Ray, in his Synopsis, states that the Scotch fir, or "pitch fir," was formerly a native of the mountainous parts of Kerry, and that most of the bog-timber found in Ireland was of this description. Turf, to the value of £10,000 annually, is said to be sent to Limerick from the neighbouring bogs.
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Immediately on my arrival at Kilkee, I commenced a ramble along the shore, and amongst the cliffs of this romantic spot. The village lies round a little bay of the sea, inclosed by high and rugged rocks, which form a grand amphitheatre. In a storm, the sea exerts such extraordinary power on this coast, that immense pieces of rock, of many tons weight, that lie fifty or sixty feet above the usual tides, are forced from their beds by the action of the waters, and cast violently into the bay. On the south side of the bay, the rock is in regular layers, with a slight inclination. "The strata," says Mr. Ainsworth, "consists of alternating beds of clay slate and ampelite, and of extremely compact quartzose rock, without cement, and scarcely any fissures of stratification." Crystals of quartz are found among the interstices of the rocks, called the Diamond Rocks; similar formations are produced along the coast of Kerry, and in the limestone of Carlow, as before stated.
Between Bishop's Island, a short distance from the shore, and the Diamond Rock, — in a very
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small gulf surrounded with rugged perpendicular rocks, 150 feet in height, — "the Intrinsic," of Liverpool, was lost. The particulars of this lamentable occurrence, which took place in the January of 1836, have been feelingly detailed by Mary John Knott, in her interesting narrative of Two Months at Kilkee. My readers will not quarrel with me for extracting a few passages. The coast-guard, attended by their officer and a number of the inhabitants of Kilkee, having flocked to render any assistance which might be in their power, "they saw the supposed captain with his speaking trumpet, calling to them in vain, but nothing could be heard from the roaring of the breakers, which, after dashing with tremendous violence upwards of 100 feet high against the perpendicular cliffs, rushed back to sea, carrying the unhappy vessel with them, until it was stopped by the anchors. During this indescribably awful period, a lady came up from the cabin, and looking round at the towering cliffs and dreadful breakers, sunk on her knees in the attitude of prayer, but was soon obliged to
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go below by the waves, which washed two of the crew overboard, but who, after astonishing exertion in the water, regained their sinking vessel, which, carrying a cargo of 500 tons, was at one moment lifted so high, that the people on the cliffs over the Diamond Rocks, thought she would be thrown up amongst them: the next minute she was engulphed in a valley of foam. As all human efforts were now unavailing, whilst the tempest blew with such violence that the agonized beholders could scarcely keep their feet, the kind hearted natives, seeing the awful termination at hand, did all that remained in their power, by kneeling down and praying for their poor fellow creatures about to be swallowed up in the mighty deep. The crew soon after went down to the cabin, no doubt to prepare for the awful change that awaited them — after which they were seen no more. The vessel at length disappeared in a huge wave, and, after a short time, her shattered frame rose once more, when the next enormous breaker (to use the words of a spectator) shattered it into a thousand
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pieces, and rolling it over and over, carried most part of it, and the light part of the cargo, out to sea. A few minutes after the Intrinsic went down, a gull, hovering over the spot, was seen to descend and pick up something out of the water. The bird then rose to a great height, and let go what the wind wafted ashore, and which proved to be a lady's glove. None of the bodies of the poor sufferers were seen except one, which was observed floating near the Bath House, on the north side of the bay. Two men incautiously rushed out to bring it in, when, awful to relate, they were both carried off by the breakers and drowned. The Intrinsic was bound from Liverpool to New Orleans, with materials for railways. They were out fourteen days from Liverpool, and having sailed round the north of Ireland, were driven by a succession of storms upon the coast."
Mr. Deane, the inventor of the new diving apparatus, was engaged by the Underwriters to recover part of the cargo, and had succeeded as well as the stormy weather would permit. His task was a difficult one, and if he received only
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half the value of what he rescued (such, I was informed, being the agreement) he would be inadequately remunerated for the risk and exertion he had undergone. Being overtaken in a snow storm, I took shelter under the side of his small vessel, which had been cast on shore, and was undergoing repair. A pretty correct idea of its diminutive size may be formed from the fact that he and twenty men were engaged in preparing to haul it down the nearly level sand into the water. Mr. Deane favoured me with a sight of his apparatus, consisting of a helmet that rests upon the shoulders, with lenses in front, and an opening at the back, in which is inserted a pipe that conveys the air over the head to the face. An airpump, worked by four men, is fixed in the deck of the vessel, and supplies the air to the diver by means of a pipe. He descends by a rope or ladder (according to the situation he may be in), to the bottom of which weights are attached, and is clothed in flannel, in addition to his usual dress. He also puts on an India-rubber dress, with leaden soles to the feet; thus he is entirely invested with
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a covering impervious to the water. Signals are made by means of cords, and are well understood between the diver and his men. A confidential person on deck, frequently repeats signals, and, if the diver should omit to answer any of them, he is immediately drawn up. From the great clearness of the water on this coast, he can see to a distance of fifty feet distinctly, a much greater distance than he has observed elsewhere. Mr. Deane stated that he had never, in the course of his perilous vocation, been molested by any large fish, but that in one place on the coast of England the great conger-eels swam by him perfectly harmless. He always, however, adopts the precaution of taking down with him a large knife, for the purpose of defence in case of attack.
A great variety of curious sea-weed, and other marine plants, are found about the rocks of Kilkee; the most important of these is the Carrigheen moss, which grows in great abundance, and is collected by the natives and bleached on the coast. It is used as an article of diet for invalids, both in Ireland and England, and is said
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to be as nutritious as isinglass. In the cavities of these rocks also, and within the reach of the tide, a beautiful small pink-coloured coral grows. The sea here is as clear as it is possible for water to be, and of the same exquisite emerald hue which I noticed at Darrynane, and some other places along the coast. This most delicate and beautiful tint is seen to the greatest advantage just at the moment the wave is curling over and breaking into foam, the bright and lively colour being contrasted sweetly with the pure white of the dashing spray. It has been said by a thoughtful and elegant writer, that a breaking wave is one of the loveliest things in nature: and they who have stood upon the cliffs of Kilkee, watching the curling of its emerald waters, will readily admit the truth of the assertion.
A party of friends might pass a few of the summer months very delightfully at Kilkee. It is an interesting place, and is surrounded by as interesting a neighbourhood. The coast of Clare, on each side of it, from Cape Lean as far as Galway Bay, abounds with curious caverns, stupendous
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rocks, ranges of picturesque and romantic cliffs, and natural bridges and waterfalls; so that whether visitors take long excursions in carriages, or short ones on foot, they are sure to meet with abundant sources of gratification. In the interesting little work before mentioned,25 are drawings of two most extraordinary bridges, which have so much the appearance of art, that did I not know the accuracy of the draftsman, and the great desire of the author to adhere most strictly to truth, I should have been induced to suspect the fidelity of both the representation and the description.
Nor is the interest with which Kilkee and the vicinity abound, of such a character as to afford delight to the lovers of the picturesque and curious exclusively. The antiquary will find numerous objects worthy of his notice. On each side of the village is an ancient Rath; that on the east, which indicates great antiquity, will best repay attention. The circumference, outside the rampart,
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is 250 yards — the top of the mound 126; the height of the top of the Rath, above the fosse, which has been filled considerably, is twenty feet; the height of the centre rampart is ten feet, and twelve above the fosse. At the south side of the top of the mound is a passage, covered with large flags, and leading into the interior; this passage is nearly filled with earth. An inhabitant of Kilkee, who some years ago explored the interior, informed me that he found a chamber of twelve feet diameter, walled at the sides, and covered with broad thick flags. On the opposite side of the chamber there appeared to have been another entrance, but the rubbish having blocked up the passage, he could not proceed far beyond the commencement of the opening. Within his memory, the people, he said, believed this and other Raths to be the abodes of fairies. "About thirty years ago," he added, "a gentleman could not induce his men to open a Rath, unless he would first take off the sod himself, and then he was obliged to ply some courageous fellows with whiskey, in order to raise their spirits for the accomplishment
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of his object. Few," continued my informant, "got any education thirty years since. The schoolmaster was no scholar, all the education he had being a little bad English. He could, to be sure, add, multiply, and divide, and do part of the Rule of Three, but he could not get through it; and this was the only schoolmaster within eight or ten miles! He was generally the clergyman's clerk." Until about two years ago, classical learning was not taught at Kilkee. A school, recently built by subscription, is zealously supported by the Rev. Mr. Dickson, the Protestant clergyman of the place.
Kilkee is the property of Lord Cunningham, an absentee: his income in Clare is said to be about £7000 a year; the property is still in lease for lives. Very many of the people here live to the age of eighty and ninety.
The curraghs, or canoes, of the fishermen on this coast, are of the same description as those used by the ancient Britons and Irish, except that they are covered (probably for the sake of economy) with tarred canvass instead of hides;
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such being the alterations that have taken place in the relative value of these two articles. The curraghs consist of wands of willow or hazel, and are so light that a man can easily carry his canoe on his back. I saw several of them laid up for the winter at the cabins of the owners. The cost price, when ready for sea, is from twenty to thirty shillings. They are sharp in front, and, behind, square but narrow; they have neither keel nor rudder, being guided very dexterously with paddles. When damaged, they are easily repaired with a piece of canvass, stuck on with pitch. The fishery of Kilkee is unfortunately declining, the fish having nearly deserted the shores; and the poverty of the fishermen deters them from trying new banks, for fear of losing their tackle.
The people of Kilkee and the neighbourhood are peaceable and well conducted. "A man would not kill another," said an old inhabitant of the place, "for a million of money;"nor does it appear that any destruction of life arises out of the taking of land. The establishment of manufactories
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would be hailed here with delight; and a copious stream of water to the north of the village, might be rendered available in working extensive machinery. The farms in this neighbourhood are from six to twenty acres in size; the rent being from twenty to thirty shillings per acre. For the bog, when part of the turf has been got off, and about ten feet in depth remains, the rent is from fifteen to twenty shillings per acre. For conacre, from fourteen to eighteen shillings per rood is paid; but this is for stubble land, not very good, and the farmer manures it. The rent paid by the farmer for the same land, is £1 per acre. Many of the farmers are now sowing clover, and I was told that in two or three years there will be scarcely a farmer who will not sow a little. No turnips, rape, or other green food, is cultivated.
The average prices of produce and living were as follows: — oats 9d. per stone; wheat 1s. 4d.; barley 9d.; potatoes, 2 1/2d.; butter 10d. for 18 oz.; beef, 4d. for the best; mutton and pork the same; a goose, weighing five or six pounds, from 1s. 6d.
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to 2s.; turkeys the same. A turbot from 2s. 6d. to 3s.; ling and cod fish, averaging 8 lbs. each, 10s. 6d. a dozen; herrings from 2s. 6d. to 4s. a hundred. There are also shrimps, lobsters, crawfish and mackerel, but no oysters. Whales come near the bay, and sometimes frighten the fishermen in their light curraghs.
During the time of potato digging, the labourers receive 6d. per day and diet, after which there is very little to be done till spring, when they may be employed till July. Early in spring they get 6d.; about May, 8d.; and then 6d. per day again. On an average, they are employed about two-thirds of their time. Some of their wives and children go to beg where they are not known, but generally the people are so industriously disposed, and pay such attention to their little potato-gardens, that not many resort to this degrading practice. In the western part of the county of Clare, I observed that many of the potatoes were in the ground on the 23d of December; and, if dug at all, would have to be got up in the present year. Some of the oats and barley had been returned from
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Limerick on account of their badness, arising from the wetness and lateness of the season, and a great quantity of the oats were so bad that not more than one bag of meal could be got from ten of the grain. The people were apprehensive of such a scarcity of provisions as they experienced in the year of 1822.
Kilkee presents no variation from the rest of places, in respect of early marriages. Girls marry at sixteen, boys from seventeen to twenty. The poorer classes marry under a conviction that their condition cannot be worse, and may possibly be more comfortable. The farmers' daughters necessarily associate with the servants; and the father, afraid of their marrying below their class, is more easily induced than he might be under other circumstances, to allow them to marry, when a tolerable offer is made, although very young.
I would advise all who intend travelling in this part of Ireland in the winter, to go well provided with tea, coffee, and any liquor they may consider necessary. The eggs obtained here are not always the best; tea and coffee are both very poor; good
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ham or bacon is difficult to find, though in a country overrun with pigs; the fowls are more skin and bone than flesh; mutton may by chance be got pretty good; but the beef is scarcely fit to eat. I lodged at the house of a Mrs. Shannon, who treated me with the utmost kindness and civility; and had I taken up my abode there at a time when visitors generally come, I doubt not many of the deficiencies I complain of, would have been supplied.
From Kilkee to Miltown Malbay, a distance of only sixteen miles, I travelled in a very jolting car (for which I paid 8s.) drawn by a horse which was either unable or unwilling to travel at an ordinary rate. Three men in succession undertook to drive him, and so far succeeded as to make him perform the journey in five hours — being at the astonishing rate of three miles an hour. At length we reached the immense inn at Miltown Malbay, which did not contain a traveller besides myself. It presented a comfortless appearance, and in many respects resembled the generality of Irish inns in the winter season: it
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was, however, comparatively free from the prevailing characteristic of dirt. The rooms were without fires, and the only newspaper they could bring me to read was one of the month of August, the time, I suppose, when visitors began to be scarce. This spacious hotel is a partnership concern, having been built about thirty years ago by four gentlemen, and, including ninety beds, cold and warm baths, and stabling for eighty horses, cost about £7,000. It is built upon a rock, immediately beneath which are the waters of a delightfully sheltered bay, resembling a lake, and occasionally, when the wind blows strong, the spray from the waves dashes against the windows of the house. The water being strong and pure, is well adapted to the purposes of sea-bathing; the sands, moreover, are firm and smooth. The present occupier of the inn pays a rent of £150 per annum; he has five acres of land, and two of bog. Nearly the whole of Miltown Malbay belongs to Mr. Marawley.
Miltown has received the additional name of Malbay, by way of distinction, from the badness
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and danger of the bay and coast. In the year 1588, several of the ships of the Spanish Armada were wrecked on the rocks at Spanish Point, at the mouth of this bay; and a large, antique, curiously carved chest, said to have contained the dresses of the bishop or chief ecclesiastic of the expedition, was washed on shore. The chest is now deposited in the ware-room of Henry Owens, an eminent cabinet-maker in Limerick. In the year 1822, when the workmen of the late John Killaley were excavating the earth, preparatory to building the bridge of Miltown, very near to Spanish Point, they discovered a number of skeletons, which, from the place of interment and other circumstances, were supposed to be those of the Spaniards who had been washed ashore when the Armada vessels were wrecked.26
The principal proprietors in the neighbourhood, are Mr. Marawley, before mentioned, whose income was stated to be about £2,000 per annum, Mr. O'Brien, £1,000 per annum, and Sir William
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Fitzgerald, from five to £6,000. This gentleman resides in France, and has also a seat near Newmarket; he comes over to Ireland occasionally, and is reported to be a good landlord.
The population of Miltown is rapidly increasing. The wages of the labourers are generally 6d., and sometimes 8d. and 10d. per day, with diet. They are occasionally much distressed, being employed only half of their time; their wives are accordingly compelled to turn out and beg, but notwithstanding this, the most complete tranquillity prevails. Land near Miltown lets at from £2 to £3. 10s. per acre; bog land, from £2. to £2. 10s. Sea-weed and sea-sand are much used for manure, and the latter is held in such high estimation as to be carted from the shore at Miltown to near Ennis, a distance of eighteen miles. But little encouragement, I am sorry to say, appears to be given to agricultural improvements.
The morning after my arrival here was exceedingly brilliant, and I anticipated with pleasure a visit to the cliffs of Moher, allowed to be the most
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stupendous on the wildest coast of Europe. Accustomed as I had latterly been to wet weather, the bright and cheerful view that presented itself when I first looked from my window, was more delightful than I can express. The waves rolled gently over the fine sandy beach; and the sea-gulls, basking on the sand, or, with out-stretched wings skimming the quiet water, were enjoying, unmolested, the influence of a warmth and radiance to which they had long been strangers. The road over which we passed was rendered slippery with frozen snow, and it was with difficulty we got along. A new road from Lahinch to Liscanor was interrupted by a gulph, that had, in consequence of some dispute with the contractor, been cut across it, and we had accordingly to scramble down a deep descent, covered with large stones, rounded by their being rolled by the action of the sea, which is here very powerful. On crossing the beach and the Innistimon River, it was with great exertion we narrowly escaped being swamped in a quick-sand. Between this place and the celebrated cliffs, we passed Birchfield, the residence of
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O'Brien, whose hospitality to strangers is distinguished; but I had not time to obtrude myself upon his kindness. He is a good landlord; indeed, the great number of white-washed and comfortable-looking cottages that are scattered over his estate, sufficiently indicate the care and attention of the owner, and have been the frequent objects of warm and just admiration. To each cottage is allotted a small portion of land, on which turnips and other green crops are grown. Mr. O'Brien, according to the expression of my informant, "gives the poor a power of employment." For the purpose of benefiting the poor, as well as for the accommodation of visitors, he built a tower or castle on the cliffs of Moher, to which stables are attached, and all the necessary requisites for the process of cooking supplied. He encourages his tenants in the cultivation of the land, allowing them a car to bring lime from Doolan; and in scarce times he supplies the poor with wool and potatoes, and judiciously takes the price out in work. Mr. O'Brien's steward said that as a good deal of work was generally going
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on, an active man need not be out of employment except on wet days. Two gentlemen of the name of Macnamara occupy a portion of their time in teaching the people to grow turnips and mangel wurzel, and pay them for erecting their own cabins, on condition that they shall whitewash them every year, and keep them clean inside. They also give employment to the women and children.
The low land lets for from thirty to forty shillings; the mountainous part, from thirteen to twenty. The cess is 1s. 5d. per acre. In this barony (Corcomroe) the proportion of Catholics to Protestants is said to be one hundred to one.
From Liscanor the road winds up the hill to the Hag's Head, a rock, so called from the striking resemblance of a part of it to the head of an old woman. Here stands an old tower, formerly used as a Telegraph, and afterwards as a Coastguard station. This cliff was stated by the late Alexander Nimmo, in his report to Government, to be more than 600 feet above the ocean. The celebrated cliffs of Moher extend for three miles to the northward of the Hag's Head — the most
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remarkable of which is computed to be 900 feet perpendicular. The fearful and sublime effect produced by gazing from the edge of these perpendicular and rugged rocks (the highest in Europe, or perhaps in the world), baffles description. The waves of the sea that rolled below, actually appeared like the diminutive curl upon a pond, when slightly agitated by the wind; and something on the shore, that looked from this dizzy height like rods that a man might grasp and wield in his hand, I was told were large balks of timber. A little southward of the Hag's Head, is a narrow rocky chasm, 500 feet deep, which runs up into the land; within this chasm flows a dark stream. To lie down on these airy heights, and project the head beyond the edge of the precipice, is an act, simple though it may seem, that requires no little resolution. The watery depth below is an awful gulph to gaze into.
Fortunately, my visit to these extraordinary cliffs was attended with a transparent atmosphere, and a great extent of rocky coast was visible — its bold headlands jutting into the sea as far as the
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eye could reach. To the south, Ballard's Point boldly projected into the Atlantic. Looking in a northerly direction, the Isles of Arran, with their white limestone cliffs, are seen rising out of the ocean. Across the spacious Galway Bay, the wild and rugged mountains of Cunnemara reared their snowy heads, and reminded me forcibly of the picturesque hills of Cumberland and Westmoreland, as seen from the terrace-walk of the Castle at Lancaster.
Leaving with reluctance the stupendous heights of Moher, which I had been most anxious to see, I returned to Lahinch. The inn is situated at the head of Ballyela Bay, and is much frequented in the summer months by bathers, the sands being remarkably fine. The majority of the company, I was informed, consists of Catholic priests. I was shewn into an immense room, a fire of wet turf being carried along with me; and the keen frosty air having produced as keen an appetite, I called for dinner, and was told that a fowl would presently be served up. The promise was literally fulfilled most certainly, for, by and by, a goose,
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as white as when it was uncooked, was brought to table. The "fowl" was baked.
Leaving Lahinch by the mail-car at seven in the morning, we passed for many miles through a poor, cold, and barren country, destitute of all objects of interest, except now and then the ruins of an ancient castle. Limestone, composed of masses of oyster shells, prevails, as Ennis, the county town of Clare, is approached; and in the immediate neighbourhood of that town the soil improves considerably. At the inn here I happened to breakfast at the same table with Thomas Steele, one of Mr. O'Connell's friends, and an able writer on the liberal side. "Nothing," said he, in reference to tithe, "nothing will now satisfy the Irish people but its total extinction, stem, root, and branch." Poor-Laws he considered indispensable.
Mr. Steele introduced me to the News-room, where I became acquainted with a gentleman, a magistrate, who, in the true spirit of Irish civility, kindly accompanied me to inspect the Jail, the Mendicity Institution, the Old Abbey, and some
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other objects of interest in the town. Mr. Baggot, I found, was an advocate of the silent system, which was about to be adopted in this prison. The arrangements in this jail, with one exception, were very good. That one exception refers to the non-classification of the boys — a point of the greatest importance. This defect will be remedied, I doubt not, when more room is obtained, for the adult prisoners are already classed, according to the character and quality of the crimes of which they are either suspected or convicted. The Mendicity Institution was also well managed; four hundred persons are fed by it.
The abbey was founded by O'Brien, Prince of Thomond, in 1250, and was considered the most elegant Gothic monastery in Ireland. The masonry of the east window remains; and it is rather extraordinary, considering the great beauty of the ruin, and the inconvenient smallness of the church at present used for Protestant worship, that the ancient edifice is not restored.
Ennis is a much cleaner and neater town than I held lately been accustomed to see, and has a
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population of about 12,000. On the river Fergus, close to the town, are several fine corn-mills.
To Limerick, twenty-two miles, I travelled by the coach, and thence to Dublin, 125 miles, by the mail. This route lay through Nenagh, Roscrea, (whose abbey and round-tower I saw by moonlight) Montrath, Maryborough, Naas, and the Curragh of Kildare. In 1798, Naas was defended against the rebels by the Armagh Militia, under the command of Lord Gosford, and a number of troops called the Ancient Britons..
When at Dublin, I was introduced to Sir William Betham, Ulster King-at-Arms, &c, who has for several years devoted much attention to antiquarian researches, respecting the affinity of the Phoenician and Celtic languages, ancient ornaments, and the ring-money. Sir William had, some time before I saw him, astonished the members of the Royal Academy by declaring his conviction that the ancient gold and brass articles which are frequently discovered in most parts of Ireland, in the form of opened rings, with the ends considerably flattened, were formerly used as current money.
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Many opinions had previously existed as to the purposes for which they had been intended, some having supposed them to be brooches, and others ornaments worn in the worship of the sun and moon. Many of the specimens found are of different forms, some having the ends so slightly flattened as to be scarcely discernible from an opened ring, and others having them gradually expanded, till the ring connecting them forms only a small part of the whole. They are also invariably graduated to a certain scale of weights, which appears to correspond with our modern Troy weight. These circumstances induced Sir W. Betham to conjecture that they formed a part of the same currency as the perfect rings. At the time of my visit, he was receiving much additional information, which enabled him soon after to read a most interesting and conclusive paper to the academy. My space will not allow me to do more than merely notice this paper, in which he throws some light upon the extensive commercial dealings of the Phoenicians, and upon their intercourse with Ireland. He discovered that a regular trade is still carried on by
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Sir John Tobin, and other English merchants, with the inhabitants of the coast of Guinea, in these very articles. Their peculiar form so exactly resembles that of the "Monaghan Manilla" (so called from the number which have been found in that county) as to leave no doubt that they are for the same purposes. They are used by the African Negroes as money, and are termed by them "Manillas," a name, which, observes Sir W. Betham, is in itself a powerful testimony, as in the Celto-Phoenician language, it literally means the representation of property. For his remarks upon the connexion of the Phoenicians, with the nations south of the "Pillars of Hercules," as well as with Ireland, I would refer my antiquarian and numismatical readers to the papers themselves.
In consequence of information received from Mr. Petrie respecting the body of a man found in a bog in Donegal, which is in the possession of the Royal Dublin Society, I was gratified on my second visit to the Society with a sight of this antiquated gentleman. In a paper communicated to the Dublin Philosophical Journal, Mr. Petrie
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says, "In the summer of 1821 the body of a man was found in a bog on the lands of Gallagh, near Newtown Bellew, the seat of C. D. Bellew, Esq., in the county of Galway. The bog was about ten feet and a half deep, and the body lay about nine feet below its surface. It had all the appearance of recent death, when first discovered, excepting that the abdomen was quite collapsed. The face was that of a young man of handsome features and foreign aspect, and his hair, which was long and black, hung loosely over his shoulders. The head, legs, and feet, were without covering, but the body was clothed in a light dress, covering also the limbs as far as the knees and elbows. This dress was composed of the skin of some animal, laced in front with thongs of the same material, and having the hairy side inwards; and it is not improbable that it might have been that of the moose-deer. He had no weapon; but, near him, at each side of the body, was found a long staff or pole, which it was supposed he had used for the purpose of bounding over streams; and, as the body was found near a
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rivulet, it was further conjectured by the peasantry that the man had met his death accidentally, in some such manner."27 The dress worn by this body leads Mr. Petrie to conclude that it belonged to a period antecedent to the arrival of the English; and this opinion is supported by some very interesting information, for which I regret that I cannot find room. In consequence of the action of the air, the body has shrunk up, but the covering of skin still exists, with the hair in good preservation. The reader who may feel curious on the subject, will be abundantly rewarded by referring to the original communication.
I left Dublin at five in the afternoon of the 28th of December — reached Liverpool at half-past eight the following morning — and was comfortably seated by my own fireside in Lancaster that evening.
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