SALMON ANGLING IN IRELAND. 179 



Crown its title to the inheritance in the person of Henry VII.), seized 

 on Gal way and Mayo, and, to avoid the consequences of their 

 usurpation, not only cast off all allegiance to the English rule, but 

 renounced their English names and habits, identifying themselves 

 and their followers with the natives. The appellation chosen by 

 Edmund de Burgho, who seized on Mayo, was Mac William Oughter, 

 or ' the further," to distinguish his family from Mac William Eighter, 

 or " the hither," who had in like manner usui-ped Gal way. From 

 this time till the reign of Elizabeth the Mac William of the time 

 continued to exercise the authority of an independent potentate. 

 The first step towards a return to old law and manners was in 1575, 

 when the then Mac William, accompanied by the O'Malley, came to 

 Gal way and made submission, consenting to pay 250 marks per annum 

 for his fief. 



The antiquities of the county are chiefly ecclesiastical. There 

 are roimd towers at Killala, Turlogh, and Meelick. At Cong are 

 the remains of a splendid abbey, where an archiepiscopal crozier of 

 surpassing beauty was found. This work of art was executed by 

 the command of Turlogh O'Connor, the father of Roderick, the last 

 native king of Ireland, and is now in the possession of the Royal Irish 

 Society. At Mo}Tie and Rosserk are ruins of great interest, and 

 the remains of Ballin-tubber Abbey, seven miles from Ballinrobe, 

 are amongst the most elegant specimens of early architecture in the 

 island. 



What a day this has been ! From eleven to six not a cloud in the 

 sky nor an air on the earth. The rushes, wading knee-deep in the 

 stream, have kept up a sweet jangling with the passing current, as if 

 sending love and good wishes to their sister weeds far off in the 

 ocean. Thrush and blackbird agi-eed it was too laborious to sing in 

 that noontide heat, and reserved themselves for the evening concert. 

 Cattle laid panting in the shade, and there carried on a defensive 

 warfare against their winged persecutors ; only the swallows and my 

 companions' lips were in full activity. Under our tree, in the long 

 rich grass, I read, wrote, smoked, and meditated ; now and then poled 

 into the river, hurriedly went over the cast, and, retmning faster than 



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