154 NOTES OF AN 



pity such an institution should not succeed, where there are 

 millions of acres lying waste, and a population comparatively 

 unemployed. The same labour that is now frittered away in 

 shreds and patches, if employed with system, and directed by 

 capital, would bring a vast quantity of land into the finest cul- 

 tivation, and afford a most profitable investment. Instead of 

 going out to South Australia, or the Canadas, why not colonize 

 Ireland ? . . . There is a beautiful seat of Lord Lucan's on enter- 

 ing Holymount, which is a neat little place, with its massive 

 Catholic and light elegant-spired Protestant church. 



Far over the bog, on the right, may be descried the ruins of 

 the once flourishing Abbey and Monastery of Mayo. Though 

 the name of the county remains, the town has long since ceased 

 •to exist. It was an English monastery, and once numbered 

 one thousand five hundred students. This is said to be where 

 Alfred the Great was educated, and likewise the place of his 

 burial. The natives still show his tomb. 



The road as you advance begins to assume a more picturesque 

 -character, occasionally winding among hills, bare, but aiford- 

 ing relief to the eye, after the long dreary waste upon which it 

 had been gazing. Lough Mask is on the left hand. From the 

 stage at Belcarragh the majestic Reek presents a most strik- 

 ing and extraordinary appearance. The great Nephin range 

 seems to have dispersed itself, and for some miles the gigantic 

 Reek stands alone, right across the road, a perfect pyramid, 

 regular as if hewn, and only differing from those of Egypt 

 in being a thousand times greater. It continues to preserve 

 more or less of this singular form, but loses its direct bearing 

 with the road, and perfect regularity of outline, by the pro- 

 jection of its shoulders, and clefts and hollows becoming visible 

 on nearer approach. 



We passed through this part of the country on a Sunday. 

 It was striking and beautiful to observe these simple peasantry 

 winding down the hills into the roads, all decent and orderly, 

 to mass. The men mostly tolerably well-clad ; the women 

 and girls — more erring on the side of scantiness — in their own 

 costume, as before described. There were many arch faces 

 among the latter, prettily shaded by a branch or two which 

 some carried to screen them from the sun. It was uncommonly 

 amusing to observe many of them, on reaching the main road 

 from across the fields and paths, stop by the banks to put on 



