46 SEASIDE DIVINITY. 



the storms of winter drive the sand upon the 

 beach, where it is raised in a bank. This at the 

 recess of the tide becomes partially dried, and 

 during strong winds in summer is carried from 

 the shore for a considerable distance inland, 

 forming mounds of fine sand far beyond the reach 

 of the waters. Some portions of the coasts thus 

 present a remarkable appearance, occasioned by 

 those downs or ranges of low sand-hills, and in 

 some instances fertile tracts of land have thus 

 become covered, to the destruction of vegetation. 

 A remarkable instance may be mentioned as 

 occurring between the towns of Arklow and 

 Wicklow, on the east coast of Ireland. Some 

 years ago the author travelled along a fine road 

 near the sea-shore between these two towns, and 

 on returning a fortnight afterwards, more than 

 half a mile of the road, although at a considerable 

 distance from the sea, had been covered with fine 

 dry sand to the depth of several feet, a storm 

 from the east having taken place during the 

 interval, and drifted the loose sand over the road 

 and the adjoining fields, many of which were 

 entirely covered, so that not a blade of grass 

 could be seen. On the coast of Sligo, a destructive 

 sand inundation took place some years ago, and 

 although in some measure checked, it is still in 

 progress. 



On the north coast of Cornwall a similar sand 

 deluge occurred many ages since, completely 

 overwhelming a large tract of once fertile and 

 cultivated land, and forming in its place numerous 



