142 A YEAR OF LIBERTY ; OR, 



hospitable Mullens ; repaired damages, and, passing " the point," 

 wound our slow way up the opposite hill, and there fairly broke 

 down. Brought thus to a stand, we paused to look about us. 

 Around lay an extensive planting of Scotch and larch firs, filling 

 the morning air with their sweetness. Our position enabled us to 

 trace the road we had hitherto followed ; to see many a comfortable 

 cottage with slated roof and well-glazed windows, each one a 

 panegyric on the owner of the property ; whilst far below, the river, 

 rushing through wooded and overhanging banks, toiled and raved 

 with unceasing din, foaming on in beautiful variety, till it swept 

 round the Mullens and was lost to our gaze. Under a heavy press 

 of rods, baskets, cloaks, and hampers, we staggered into the little 

 hamlet of Beleek, once famous as a military station, commanding 

 the passage between Fermanagh and Donegal, and now illustrious as 

 possessing an admirable fisherman's rest, where some of '' ours " 

 usually take up their quarters. Under the south wall of this 

 pleasant hostelry, the mighty river like a boy let loose from school 

 laughs, leaps, and tumbles, and within less than fifty yards of the 

 door are the falls of which such honourable mention is made by 

 " The Angler in Ireland," as the scene of his most killing days. 

 Whilst the boat was being prepared, we strolled to the little 

 bridge, under whose low solitary arch rush the whole surplus 

 waters of the lake. This is the narrowest part of the Erne, which, 

 for the space of ten or twelve yards, cannot be above twenty feet 

 wide ; but the depth of its rocky bed is unknown. Not far from 

 this spot we embarked, and pulled away over the widening water to 

 the lake. 



Lough Erne lies almost entirely in Fermanagh, which it loves so 

 well, as to traverse the county from end to end. Passing diagonally 

 through its whole length, it offers a greater extent of internal navi- 

 gation than any other of the Irish lakes. Even many of the larger 

 streams which empty themselves into it, are used by the flat- 

 bottomed boats of the country for two or three miles of their course. 

 Moving tranquilly over the bosom of the lake, we confessed few 

 scenes could be more lovely. Of course, it cannot be compared fpr 



