116 THE BULI/S MOUTH. 



a powerful leading wind ; and the southern outlet of the sound 

 at Achil Beg is similarly circumstanced. These straits are 

 deep and dangerous, for through them the waters which flow 

 from Blacksod and Clew Bay, and fill this extensive channel 

 and its surrounding estuaries, rush with amazing violence ; 

 and the rapidity with which the tides enter and recede is 

 frightful. The opposing currents flow nearly north and south, 

 and meet and separate at the ruins of an ancient salt-house. 

 Here, the old mountain-road terminated, and at the Farsett as 

 the ford across the estuary is termed the passenger can earliest 

 cross to the island from the mainland. Indeed, the intercourse 

 with Achil was in former days limited enough. Few persons, 

 except those engaged in smuggling, visited this insulated dis- 

 trict ; and many an islander lived and died without having ever 

 seen a town. 



The fishing-boats and hookers, whose easy draught of water 

 will permit it, naturally prefer a passage through the sound, 

 when voyaging from Erris to Clew Bay, rather than the longer 

 and more exposed course of rounding Achil Head. To effect 

 it, however, requires some skill, and a strict attention to the 

 tides. On the Farsett, the depth at high- water seldom exceeds 

 eight or nine feet : and as the flow and recession of the 

 opposing waters is astonishingly rapid, the boat must enter 

 upon one and retire upon the other. The passage, if effected, 

 is consequently but very short, and the sound may be cleared 

 in an hour, with the same wind that would occupy an entire 

 day, if Achil Head were doubled. 



In bad weather, both entrances, however, are dangerous in 

 the extreme, and care and seamanship are necessary to pass 

 either with safety. The peasantry are habituated to this 

 voyage, and comparatively little risk ensues. Still many 

 accidents have occurred small boats have foundered in the 

 attempt and large hookers, when deeply laden, have perished 

 in the conflicting eddies which opposite winds and tides occa- 

 sion. The most cautious boatmen are sometimes overtaken 

 by squalls from the surrounding hills and night and drunken- 

 ness have, alas ! been more fatal than all besides. 



Yet the Bull's Mouth, like the ordeal of mortal inquietude, 

 leads to its haven of rest. In a gale from the westward, when 

 the Atlantic tumbles with mountainous fury into Blacksod 

 Bay, the fishing-boat, once within the sound, finds smooth 



