and the mainland; they trade between Sligo, Westport, and Galway.

10. In one of these vessels I took passage, reaching in

about three hours

the island-studded expanse of

Clew Bay.

At

spoiled by trade.

11. I turned my boat towards the cliffs of Clare Island, which acts as a great breakwater to Clew Bay, sheltering it from the rough embraces of the Atlantic. Here, in the time of Queen Elizabeth, lived a chieftainess named Grana, whose warlike deeds are still told among the

Clew Bay, County Mayo.

natives. She was buried in the abbey, the ruins of which

are still to be seen.

LESSON 29.-FROM GALWAY BAY TO CAPE CLEAR.

1. The Arran Islands are placed so as to withstand the whole force of the stormy Atlantic, and form a breakwater to Galway Bay.

2. The early dwellers in Ireland are said to have quarrelled and fought among one another, as people in those days were wont to do. Those who had the worst of it retreated to the Arran Islands, and built some of the most singular forts in the world; many of these massive defences remain to this day.

3. Then came the Christians to convert the pagans, who however fled away in their coracles. The saints built ten churches, and the island became a resort for the good and the learned. No wonder, then, that Arran teems with remains of one sort and another.

4. On the great island, or Inishmore, are the largest of these forts or duns, as well as remains of early stoneroofed dwellings, known as "cloghans." Dun Angus is at the edge of a cliff 300 feet high, and has three walls, of which the inner is thirteen feet thick.

5. South of Achil the islands become less frequent, but the coast retains its stern and grand features, presenting for many miles a barrier of tall cliffs that bode no good to any tempest-caught vessel. The first island that is met with is little more than a rock, so difficult to get at that it is called in Irish the Island of the Hungry Bishop. It contains the ruins of an ancient stone "Bee-hive Chapel."

6. Not far from Kilrush, in the more sheltered mouth of the Shannon, is the little island of Inish Scattery, which contains a fine round tower 120 feet in height. The doorway of this tower is level with the ground,

whereas almost every other round tower in Ireland is entered by a door raised several feet above the ground and reached by a ladder, confirming the view that the towers were used partly as places of defence.

7. Still steering south, we round the formidable coast of Dingle Head, and give rather a wide berth to the Blasket Islands, with the more satisfaction as there is nothing to see on them. A large ship belonging to the Spanish Armada was wrecked on the Blaskets in 1588, and 500 people, including many noblemen, were drowned, the pilot alone being saved.

8. Within sight of the Blaskets is an island of a very different description, renowned for modern science and not for ancient art. This is Valencia, the head-quarters in Great Britain of the Atlantic Telegraph. The slate quarries are worth a visit. There is always a fine sea on the outer rocks, and the Atlantic is said to roll into Valencia in bigger waves than it does in any other part of Britain.

9. The Skellig rocks stands in awful loneliness about ten miles from the Kerry coast. Here are two lighthouses, of which one is 700 feet above the sea-level and shows a light for twenty-five miles in clear weather. A good zigzag path leads to this lighthouse, and above it the rock lifts its wall-like head for at least 700 feet more.

10. On St. Michael's day many people risk their lives in ascending the summit to perform their devotions. They squeeze themselves through the Needle's Eye-a funnel in the rock of about thirteen feet-the passing up which is like the ascent of a chimney. The pilgrims then creep on hands and feet the Stone of Pain, upon up whose smooth surface one false step would be enough to end the pilgrimage there and then.

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11. Then, getting astride the Spindle, a rock projecting some ten feet, each climber must

Ride a cock horse

To St. Michael's cross,

which is engraved at the end. A paternoster must be said, and a very careful reverse movement made, before the pilgrim is out of danger. A position of great danger it must be to sit dangling one's legs over the Atlantic, at a height of 1500 feet, with scarce anything to catch hold of; yet no accidents have been known to happen there.

12. The south coast of Ireland, though very rocky and steep, is remarkably free from islands. Cape Clear, usually the first land sighted from America, is the only one worth mention.-G. P. Bevan.

LESSON 30.-PLAIN, BOGS, AND MOUNTAINS.

1. The Great Plain of Ireland extends across the country from Dublin Bay to Galway Bay, about 120 miles, with a length north and south of 160 miles. It occupies the whole centre of the country, and is for the most part level, or has a gently undulating surface. Except in the bogs, it forms a tract of highly fertile pasture land.

2. The bogs of Ireland are of so great extent as to form an important feature of the country. From many of them peat is obtained, forming in the absence of coal a valuable fuel. A wide stretch of bog-land has a very dreary aspect.

3. A considerable portion of the plain is occupied in the middle by what is called the Bog of Allen, which, however, at the present day does not consist of a single