126 THE IRISH PEOPLE. 



tions and fatigue incident to a soldier's life on 

 active service; and in dash and daring no regiments 

 in the service hold a prouder place than those which 

 appertain to the kingdom of Connaught." (Dr. 

 Browne and I deny the first two statements.) Of. 

 pp. 138, 144. 



" It is said that the physical appearance of the 

 Irish peasantry deteriorates as the Northern and 

 Western sea-coasts are approached ; and certainly 

 on the latter the population are very inferior to that 

 of the adjacent counties. Even the inhabitants of 

 different baronies in the same county, as their 

 locality advances inland, will be found to differ 

 materially ; and in an extensive cattle fair the 

 islander will be as easily distinguished from the 

 borderer, whether he be on the Galway or Ros- 

 common frontier, as from the stock-master of 

 Leinster or the jobber from the North. On the 

 score of propriety of conduct, I would assign the 

 female peasantry 'of this district a high place. When 

 the habits of the country are considered, one would 

 be inclined to suspect that excessive drinking and 

 the frequent scenes of nocturnal festivities, which 

 wakes and dances present, would naturally lead to 

 much immorality. This, however, is not the case. 

 Broken vows will, no doubt, occasionally require 

 the interference of the magistrate or the priest ; 



