Natural History of the Island of Rathlin. 55 
very anxious to discover the purport of my visit to Raghery. Though they all con- 
versed in their native dialect, I saw from their looks, and manners, the anxiety they 
were unable to suppress. At length, one of them ventured to inquire, if I was “ one 
of the gentlemen who looked after the schools?” J answered I was not. ‘* Maybe 
you would be one of the government gentlemen going to take observations ?” said 
another. Here again they were unsuccessful, and I was at length obliged to inform 
them of my profession. A physician so seldom visited their island, that they looked 
upon their present voyager as a kind of godsend ; and I observed, that during the 
remainder of the passage, I was treated with much increased deference. 
Questions on the treatment of different diseases now flowed on me; and we had 
become uncommonly good friends when we reached Raghery. They invited me to 
visit them when in their part of the island, which I did about a week afterwards. I 
was proceeding along the banks of Lough Cleggan, in pursuit of a ring-plover, and in 
the course of the chase, I was led over a small hill forming the southern boundary of 
the lake. From the summit of this, I overheard my Kenramer friends busied in 
cutting turf; they immediately recognised me, and they and their companions form- 
ing a party of about twenty in number, gathered round me, and, for at least half an 
hour, did all in their power to aid my search for the ring-plover’s nest. They pointed 
out to me their flock of sheep and herd of cattle grazing in the valley in which their 
cottages were situated ; the animals, though belonging to eight or ten families, were 
all kept together, each having its owner’s mark. ‘The inhabitants of this and other 
townlands gain a livelihood by cultivating their land and carrying the overplus of 
their crops to Ballycastle ; and from their residing three hundred feet above the level 
of the sea, fishing and kelp-making are not pursued, as along the southern shores. 
One day, while sauntering on the road at Church bay, an old man overtook and 
accosted me. ‘‘I understand, sir,” said he, ‘‘that you are a doctor.” ‘* You are 
right,” I replied. ‘If it was not taking too great a liberty, then, might I ask what 
you would recommend for my leg which has been hurt.” I examined the wound, and 
prescribed what I thought necessary. He now wished to pay me my fee for advice, 
although his dress bespoke any thing but wealth in its wearer. Of course, I expressed 
my obligation for his good intention, but declined the proffered kindness. What then 
could he do to oblige me? he would carry my gun—my shot-belt—my botanical 
box, or any thing else I had; something he must do to evince his gratitude for my 
attention, and I was at length obliged to send him on some errand to one of the ad- 
joining houses. I met him frequently afterwards in different parts of the island, and 
he never failed to inform all the invalids in the townland of my approach ; and when 
I had reached the houses, he would present himself with a train of followers, all de- 
sirous of medical advice. In many places he acted as interpreter ; and some days 
after I had first met him, I was greatly amused by the dexterity he displayed in disco- 
