MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT. 103 



One accident, which happened not long since, was truly 

 melancholy. A woman, the mother of several helpless chil- 

 dren, and who but a month before had given birth to twins, 

 perished in the sight of her family. No relief in such cases 

 can be given : the reflux of these mountainous waves bears 

 the victims away, and, with rare exceptions, the bodies are 

 never found, as .they are either borne out to sea, or entombed 

 in one of the many deep caverns with which the bases of these 

 fearful precipices are perforated. 



We reached home at seven, made a hasty toilet, and dined 

 sumptuously from mountain mutton and a fine John Dory, 

 which the priest had sent us in our absence. Determined to 

 eschew temptation, we avoided engaging a fresh Dutchman, 

 which our host pressed upon us, and put in a quiet even- 

 ing. After smoking a cigar, and discussing its necessary 

 association of schnaps and water, we turned into our ham- 

 mocks in such grave and philosophic moderation, as might 

 have claimed the approbation of Sir Humphry, and entitled 

 us to a place of honour in any Temperance Society in Great 

 Britain. 



CHAPTER XIX. 



Prepare to leave Achil Visit to the Eagle's Cliff Attempts to destroy 

 these birds Their depredations Partiality for black fowls Destroy 

 fish Anecdote of an eagle and salmon Exterminate hares Their 

 mode of coursing and catching salmon Foxes, numerous and destruc- 

 tive Smaller birds of prey Run to Inniskea Devilawn Tarraon 

 Difficult coast to land on Woman and Curragh Rabbit shooting 

 Local sketches Twilight scenery Dangerous idiot Whisky Its 

 excellence Copper stills Island seldom visited by the revenue 

 Character of the islanders Particular in burying their dead Prone to 

 litigation The lawsuit. 



FROM the scarcity of grouse in Achil, we altered our original 

 plans, and decided upon sending our dogs back to the Lodge 

 by a rowing-boat, and going in the hooker to visit the island 

 of Inniskea. 



After breakfast we proceeded to embark our personals ; and 

 having despatched our heavy luggage by the attendants, whom 

 we ordered home, we ascended the hill, (while the crew were 



