48 CLIFDEN — CLEGGAN. 



ard, the land appeared somewhat superior, and suitable 

 for a better class of sheep stock. A good hill-farm 

 might be made here, and the banks of the Lough pre- 

 sent many eligible sites for a residence. The fishing in 

 these lakes, and in the rivers which flow from one to 

 the other, is said to be excellent ; and the shooting 

 no doubt might, with care, be much improved. 



The mansion-house is a good comfortable house, well 

 situated on the bank of the river which flows from the 

 lakes to the sea. The western slopes of the river and 

 lake, adjoining the house, are wooded, and the grounds 

 laid out with walks leading to the boats and stables, 

 which are nearly a mile distant. An old castle, on a 

 small island in the lake, with a fine conical mountain 

 behind it, adds greatly to the picturesque effect of the 

 scene. The quality of the land for miles around is 

 heathy mountain, fit to carry small blackfaced sheep 

 and West Highland cattle. After a walk over the 

 neighbouring hills of five miles, I cannot say that I saw 

 anything of a quality much superior to this. Improve- 

 ments certainly are going on, on a neighbouring property, 

 but in my opinion they will never pay as a remunerative 

 money investment. 



Next day we visited Clifden, rather a good town, 

 prettily situated at the head of one of the numerous 

 inlets of the sea, which are everywhere met with on this 

 coast, as the translation of the word Connemara, " Bays 

 of the sea," sufficiently indicates. This town has 

 suffered much from the effects of the late famine. 



Proceeding northwards five miles, we reached Cleg- 

 gan, another division of the Martin estate, and walked 



