1897.] PrAKGKR. — Expedition to Rockall. 311 



picture — the dark rugged line of Urrisbeg on the left, with a 

 bright gleam on the sands of Port-na-fedog and another on 

 Roundstone church ; the grey jagged Twelve Bens in the 

 centre, and in the right foreground the brown and green patch- 

 work of Deer Island. Away on each hand, a long stretch 

 of the low rocky coast of Connemara. 



6.30 P.M. Ci,KGGAN Bay, Connicmara. — We passed the 

 twin lighthouses of Slyne Head at 4.30, and got into the long 

 roll of a glassy sea. The afternoon brightened again, and 

 became beautifully clear. A flock of 30 Manx Shearwaters at 

 Slyne Head, and this bird now became frequent. Now our 

 course lay N.N.E., and at 5.15 we passed the beautifully rugged 

 and cliff-bound High Island, and down a channel with horrid 

 rocks just showing on either hand. Inishark and Inishbofin 

 gave welcome shelter from the westerly swell, which was 

 becoming heavier, and we glided into the pretty bay of 

 Cleggan. A deep inlet, with a quay and a straggling hamlet 

 on one side, and on the other a high steep green rocky hill, 

 crowned by an old watch-tower. At the head of the bay the 

 Twelve Bens form a lovely background to a long gravel- 

 beach. There we left Mr. Shimmin on an old hulk on which 

 fish-packing in ice was going on busily. 



6.0 A.M., Wednesday, June 3. Broad Haven, Co. Mayo.— 

 Leaving Cleggan immediatel}^ we kept northward, out between 

 the grand rugged cliffs of Inishturk and the lower hills of 

 Inishbofin. Dinner luckily was served while we were still 

 under the shelter of Bofin. The weather changed again, and 

 the sun set red and threatening, in a sky of torn thick cloud, 

 with a fresh N-E. breeze, and a heavy swell setting in from 

 N.N.W. We passed Clare Island, with its grand hill rising 

 1,450 feet steeply from the water. Achil now loomed ahead, 

 but it was 9.30 ere we passed its dark savage cliffs, edged with 

 gleaming foam, with Croaghaun towering up in a grand cone 

 2,192 feet into the sky. Two Grampuses of some sort passed 

 us off Clare Island— large animals, with white bodies, and a 

 large high triangular somewhat sickle-shaped black fin. At 

 10.30, off Black Rock light-house, I turned in. At 1.30 a.m. 

 we finished our day's run of 150 miles, and cast anchor in the 

 shelter of Broad Haven. 



On deck this morning at 5.45. A large bay with narrow 

 entrance ; a good deal of cultivation, especially on the western 



A 2 



