SALMON ANGLING IN IRELAND. 235 



of 2222 feet, springing directly from the water's edge. We stood 

 on the summit looking over the wide ocean, which bore no sail ; on 

 turning landward, beheld the island spread out before us ; an occa- 

 sional patch of oats, still green, relieving the monotony of the sterile 

 hills and the black peat bogs. Some small flocks of goats crouched 

 amongst the boulders, or wandered over the nearly naked ledges of 

 rock, and seemed quite in keeping with the scene. 



The short twilight of an autumn evening was drawing to a close 

 as we once more entered Dugurth, nor do I ever remember appre- 

 ciating more fully the comforts of a good inn than I did on that 

 evening, when we discussed a hind quarter of Keel mutton, which, 

 from its exquisite flavour, must have quaffed nectar, or fattened on 

 ambrosia. 



Northward from the range of Nephin lies a vast tract of desolate 

 moorlands, bounded on the east by the fertile valley of the Moy, 

 and on the west by the mountains of Tyrawley and Nephin Beg. A 

 nearly parallel ridge divides this district into two portions, the 

 waters of one flowing into Lough Conn, whilst the streams of the 

 other, passing through a gap in the centre of the range from the 

 Owenmore river, fall into the head of Black Sod Bay. This savage 

 wilderness less known, perhaps, than any other part of Ireland is 

 of great beauty, and possesses special interest for the sportsman. 

 South of the valley of the Owenmore, the mountain outlines are 

 particularly bold and striking, being broken into lateral defiles, and 

 containing many lakes of surpassing beauty. The chief heights are 

 Slieve Cor, Nephin Beg, and Cush-cum-Curragh, the last rising 

 immediately above the shores of Clew Bay, and, with its offsets, 

 occupying the entire promontory of Corraun Achil, and beyond it 

 towering again in many a bold elevation through Achil proper. 



This island is of triangular form and of considerable extent, its 

 three sides being respectively twelve, fourteen, and fifteen miles. 



Having swallowed all this geographical knowledge from a stout 

 quaiix) borrowed from the landlord, the effect, as might naturally be 

 expected, proved powerfully soporific. Instinctively my thoughts 

 turned bedwards, and then flew off at a tangent towards Alphonso 



