SALMON AXOLING IN IRELAND. 39 



able to make liis guests most comfortable at 1)/. per month up to 

 May. Those terms may seem a little high, but we must bear in 

 mind that, unless a man has the constitution of a buffalo, wet, cold, 

 and hard work require comfort ; that the season is very short, and 

 the accommodation of such a house incalculable to the tourist. 



The present lessee of the fishery, with the most far-seeing liberality, 

 allows strangers to angle on the river below the weirs in fact, he 

 lays open to them his whole run of fish. All he asks in return is, 

 that any early salmon taken by the rod shall be placed in the 

 'pond," or, if retained, be paid for at market price. So he gives all 

 that a tme sportsman can desire, freely, and only requires that his 

 property and interests may not suffer for his kindness. 



Once more we are at Killorglin, on our way to Limerick via 

 Killamey. Here I once asked a friend (a man of extraordinary 

 singleness of purpose) whether he had seen this view, or examined 

 that ruin. He replied, ''I came to see salmon, not archaeological 

 curiosities," Many men, however, have many minds, and the reader 

 might like to see some of these, though my friend did not. 



The traces of antiquity scattered over the county are very 

 numerous. I do not pretend to be deeply learned in such matters ; 

 nevertheless, if wearied by hard work, or brought to a stand by bad 

 weather, I would pay a visit to the Ogham inscriptions, in the vicinity 

 of Kilmelchedor Church, near Smerwick Harbour. Prae-Roman 

 prae-Christian older than history, older even than tradition these 

 inscribed stones have still the power to cast a strange spell on the 

 beholder. I do not understand the characters, and doubt whether 

 I should enjoy them half so much if I did. The key is said to be 

 found, but to me this revivification of dead symbols seems unsatis- 

 factory. Could we really get at the truth, what should we learn ? 

 Would these mystic lines speak of a life of triumph, or a death of 

 fame ; of love enjoyed, or affection slighted ? AVho can say ? The 

 characters, however, stand eloquent in silence. Well may we moralise 

 with the banished duke 



This is no flattery ; these are counsellors 

 That feelingly persuade me what I am. 



