CURE OF THE FARAGURTA, 191 



active boy, called Emineein* commonly attended me to the 

 moors, and one day he was suddenly taken ill, in the very 

 wildest part of the hills. He lost all power of limb, and 

 lay down upon the heath unable to proceed a step. We had 

 no grain of any kind to administer, and in this emergency 

 tried that universal panacea a glass of whisky. After he 

 had swallowed the cordial, the boy rather got worse than 

 better, and we were obliged to carry him to a still- house, at 

 nearly two miles, distance. On our arrival, fortunately for 

 Emineein, we found the operators collected round a skibb\ 

 of potatoes. After eating one or two, the patient was 

 able to join the party, and next morning proceeded stoutly 

 home. 



" In my own case, the predisposing cause was no enigma. 

 I had been one of a knot of foxhunters who, on the pre- 

 ceding night, had indulged in a desperate jollification. 

 Finding a disinclination for breakfas.t, I repaired, contrary 

 to my general habit, without it to the mountains. I had 

 exercised severely for several hours, when at once I became 

 helpless as an infant, and sank upon a bank incapable of 

 motion. My pony and some food were speedily obtained, 

 and the faragurta banished. But assuredly, if unassisted, 

 I must have lain upon the heath, for I could not make the 

 slightest exertion to get forward." 



It is a lamentable fact, that the obligation of legal oath 

 is here of trifling importance. Cases of determined perjury 

 occur every day ; and an adjuration upon the evangelists, is 

 considered as being far inferior in solemnity to one upon the 

 priest's vestment. Whether there be any regular formula to 

 be observed in this comparative swearing, I know not ; I say 

 comparative, for in Ballycroy, oaths, like adjectives, have three 

 degrees of value. First, that upon the evangelists ; the second, 

 upon the vestment ; and the last upon the skull. Nothing is 

 more common than to hear a fellow, who had just laid down 

 the book, offer to fortify his doubtful evidence, by taking 

 number two. But even the vestment is not always conclusive; 

 and the following anecdote will best describe the value of com- 

 parative swearing : 



* Synonymous to Neddy. t A basket. 



