80 WRETCHED HUTS. 



pied by old women living by themselves, others by 

 families : they had no gardens of any kind, and said 

 they could get no work ; and, if this was true, they must 

 exist either on out-door relief, or by plundering their 

 neighbours. They expressed themselves as very thank- 

 ful to the owner of the land for the privilege of occupy- 

 ing this barren rock ! 



It was the only barren spot I saw in this very fertile 

 neighbourhood. From this point to the river runs a 

 ridge of fine dry land, about a mile in length, with rich 

 "corcases" on each side of it, having river frontage, and 

 a road to the water-edge. It would make a farm of 

 the most valuable description. In the " good times," 

 the best of the land let at about 44s. per English acre. 

 It is within four or five miles of Limerick. 



