83 . 



the great Loch Neagh, alone, my friend not being well 

 enough to accompany me. I engaged a genuine Irishman, 

 who amused me with his quaint anecdotes. I killed one 

 salmon weighing eleven pounds, and several fine trout. 



I will here relate an incident of that day. We took 

 a hamper of good things for the inner man, with plenty of 

 whiskey, well knowing Pat's love for the craythur, and 

 some brown ale for myself. There is but one small 

 island on this large lough, and Pat proposed that we should 

 lunch there, which we did. I was delighted with the 

 scenery. The flowers and shrubs, which in England, 

 scarcely grow to the height of a foot, there grow to four 

 or five feet. The trees are covered with various coloured 

 mosses, and with the birds warbling their soft notes, the 

 scene appeared as one of enchantment. After lunch, and 

 when about to start, Pat complained of the hamper being 

 in his way, and proposed to leave it on the island till our 

 return, to which I consented. We went several miles 

 further down the lough and hooked a salmon, but lost it 

 close to the boat. As the day was far spent we returned, 

 and Pat called at the island for the hamper. I waited 

 his return till my patience was exhausted. He came at 

 last, his face plainly indicating what he had been after. 

 I asked him where he had been so long, as I feared we 

 should be benighted. He said, " Now, your honour, 

 don't be angry; I couldn't just put my hand on it." I 

 begged him to make good use of his oars. He worked 

 very hard for some time, till I told him to rest and give 

 me the whiskey. He said, " I can't do that, your honour ; 

 for the corks are come out and it's all spilt." Of course 



