IRISH INSECT-HUNTER. 167 



the wide ocean, which 1 knew we must come in sight of 

 again, and had most anxiously looked out for — the last of 

 these only revealed to us another tremendous valley, and 

 another ridge, more rocky and still loftier than before! The 

 day-light was now fading fast. It lasts long on the mountain 

 elevations, but fails the more rapidly on descending into the 

 hollows. Knowing full well how wide a slight deviation in the 

 bearing may lead in unknown mountainous regions, I questioned 

 our guide closely whether he really was sure of his direction, for 

 every track and indication had long been lost. A suspicion 

 even crossed me of the possibility of his treachery, and of his 

 entangling us among these horrid mountains till night-fall, 

 with evil design. I measured him with my eye, and again put 

 some searching questions, by which I became thoroughly satis- 

 fied that the poor fellow was at least as much alarmed as we 

 were ; and was himself almost knocked up with the length of 

 this day's march, and the increased fatigue of our pack upon 

 his shoulders. We again pressed forward with renewed 

 vigour; and, in descending, we all came at once upon the 

 brink of a precipice, so dim and sudden, that we were only 

 just able to see our danger, and check our career. We 

 had to go a considerable way along, before we could effect a 

 descent ; the darkness increasing with the depth at every step 

 we took. I again became assured that our guide knew some- 

 thing of the nature of mountain regions, by the admirable 

 certainty with which he made the only spot where the wild 

 stream at the bottom of this ravine could be crossed, and the 

 best point for climbing its opposite precipitous side. That 

 which we had come down appeared, on looking back, — perhaps 

 aided by the darkness, — absolutely perpendicular, and inde- 

 scribably black and awful. The clambering had to be effected 

 one by one, and we could no longer see each other at the 

 distance of a few yards. Our guide still pressing forward 

 with all his might to save what day-light remained, we had, 

 though with a feeling bordering on self-immolation, to hail 

 him repeatedly to keep in sight. Most arduously was the 

 summit of this ridge gained ; and, when we had attained it, 

 we could perceive nothing but the most inhospitable wilder- 

 ness of enormous rocks, more like the very nucleus of these 

 savage mountains, than any nearer to human habitations. 

 After groping amongst them some time for an exit, I believe we 



