76 



extent of forests and of uncultivated land, we may infer, that 

 commerce was at a low ebb ; agriculture ill understood and neg- 

 lected ; and the population thin and poor. Their payments were 

 chiefly in kind ; ''J*- the materials for food seem to have been 

 scanty and savage ;'^=- the feeble and relaxed state of govern- 

 ment encouraged the extortion of -a variety of unjust imposts,'-''^- 

 some of which are supposed to have been introduced by the 

 English. From this picture, which Ireland presented in the 12th 

 century, we may infer a similarity of features, and even a more 

 barbarous complexion, in earlier ages. Laws enacted, even so 

 late as the l^th century, for the civilization of the Irish, are such 



IQ^. Campion, p. 28, so late as tlie 16th century, informs us, that " they exchange by 

 commutation of wares for the most part, and have utterly no coyne stirring in any great 

 lord's houses.' 



195. Antiq. Hib. Cap. 22. Among the herbs used as articles of food were wood-sorrel, 

 oxalis acetosella, trefoil, trifolium pratense, scurvy grass, cochlearia officinalis, and water.cress, 



sisymbrium nasturtium. Campion, P. 25, says : ' their kyne they let blood, which, gtowen 



to a jelly, they bake and overspread with butter, and so eat in it lumps." And Spencer, P. 



99 Perhaps the custom is not wholly disused ; for an acquaintance of mine informs me, 



that, his cows having been driven to a pound, in the parish of Domhnach mor, about 30 years 

 ago, he found the pound-keeper's family employed in frying their blood ; and, on complaining 

 of the act, they averred in excuse, that the extraction of it would tend to fatten them. 



196. These are termed by Sir J. Ware, Bonaght, Sorchen, Coshery, Cuddy, Shragh, and 

 Mart ; to which Sir Richard Cox adtls, ' Cutting or South, Dowgello, Kernety, Musterown, 

 which are thus expounded : 



1. BuSnacht mhor, free quarter at discretion. 



2. Buanacht bheag, a portion of meat and drink, beside money for the maintenance of 

 soldiers. 



3. Sraithin, diminution of Sraith, a charge for the Gallow-glasses ; meat and drink once 

 in the fortnight. 



4. Coisir, a temporary living upon a party. 



5. Cuid oidhcke, supper ; or an equivalent in honey, aqua vitae, or money. 



6. Sraiih, a yearly rent in money. 



