ISLE OF MAN. 



island large quantities of timber, supposed to be antediluvian, have 

 been discovered, consisting principally of gigantic trunks of pine 

 and oak. About one third of the island is in an uncultivated state. 



The chief support of the island is its herring fishery ; the season for 

 which commences in July, and terminates in October. During these 

 months it is held a species of sacrilege to destroy a sea-gull, and the 

 somewhat heavy fine of 3 is imposed for each offence. These birds 

 are the only guides to the fishermen when out at sea, to indicate the 

 spot where the shoals of herrings float, and this they effect by hover- 

 ing in flocks over the water. Upwards of 300 boats, of from 18 

 to 30 tons, are employed in this fishery. Few more spirit-stirring 

 scenes can be imagined than that presented by their departure from 

 the harbour. No inducement, however powerful, will prevail on 

 them to go out to sea on a Sunday. 



Having some desire to see a little more of their calling, I made ar- 

 rangements with a fisherman for that purpose. We quitted the har- 

 bour with the tide, at about six o'clock in the evening. When out 

 of sight of land, the nets were cast, and the fishermen passed the 

 night in drinking rum and water, and chaunting native melodies, in 

 native Manx. At the first blush of the dawn, the nets were hauled 

 up, and the thousands of fish they encompassed thrown indiscrimi- 

 nately into the hold of the vessel. As the morning advanced, other 

 boats were discovered standing into land, and it then became a matter 

 of emulation with each to make the harbour first a task rarely ac- 

 complished without accidents of some description. The whole town, 

 on these occasions, seems congregated on the pier-head, and the con- 

 sumption of rum is prodigious. 



At a distance of about three miles from Peel, is an elevation of the 

 earth called the Tynwald Mount. This is, in all probability, the most 

 interesting historical relic in the whole island. The ascent to the 

 summit, which is about seventeen feet in height, is by a flight of steps 

 cut in the earth, on the western side, and encompassing it on every 

 side are several terraces decreasing from the base in breadth. From 

 this mount, according to the most ancient records of the Island, the" 

 laws have been, and to this day they continue to be, promulgated to 

 the people. On such occasions, a chair is placed beneath a canopy, 

 upon its summit, and occupied by the governor, or his deputy. The 

 deemsters, council, and the keys, take their stations, and occupy the 

 terraces below him, while the surrounding space of ground is filled by 

 the Islanders. The laws are always proclaimed in the Manx and 

 English languages. 



From Peel I went to Glen IMoij a spot which equals, on a minia- 

 ture scale of splendour, any scene I ever witnessed. Its great attrac- 

 tion consists in a fine waterfall, descending into a rocky glen, the 

 stream from which, after winding through a fertile valley, falls into 

 the sea. 



The Island is divided into four towns : Douglas, Peel, Castle Town, 

 and Ramsay. Douglas is supposed to contain between 6 and 7000 

 inhabitants, and derives its name from the junction of the two rivers 

 Dhoo and Glass. The streets are all narrow dirty and inconve- 

 nient scantily lighted during the winter months and wholly un- 



