OF THE COUNTY OF TYRONE. 147 



who commonly engage only by the year, and from 

 year to year. Sometimes the cabin is built by the far- 

 mer, commonly of ftone and clay mortar, and fome- 

 times of fods only. In the barony of Dungannon, 

 fome fcattered cabins are built of mud, or yellow clay 

 mixed with ftraw for litter, but thofe cabins are poor- 

 ly made up; the roof is generally of bog fir, or bog 

 oak, and thatched with oat or barley {haw, and 

 fbmetimes with rqfties and fprit, heath, broom, refufe 

 of flax, &c. 



But the moft general way of building cabins is by 

 both parties, that is, by the farmer and labourer, in 

 which cafe the latter is allowed fome abatement in the 

 firft year's rent. Sometimes the whole is built by the cot- 

 tier, and in this cafe a whole year is generally allowed 

 for the trouble and expence of building, which is ge- 

 nerally from three to five pounds. We feldom find 

 the cabins of the poor fubftantial or comfortable, and, 

 when built according to the laft cafe, little can be ex- 

 pected in point of either, fince the poor labourer has no 

 permanent intereft, but only from year to year. Hence 

 we find fo many cabins perpetually going to deftruc- 

 tion through all parts of the country. 



I have remarked, that a cabin may be built, for from 

 three to five pounds; the difficulty of procuring the 

 roof, of bog timber, is the greateft the builder has to 

 encounter with. The woods of Munterloncy are almoft 

 cut down, which, for many miles round, and for a great 

 L 2 number 



