STATE OF THE PEOPLE OF KERRY. 97 



the demand being greater, somewhat better prices are 

 realised than at Tarbert, a donkey-load bringing 6d. to 

 8d., and a back-load Id. to 2d. The landlords are said 

 to realise considerable rents from bogs well situated for 

 roads and markets. 



In all the line of country I came through to-day, 

 some thirty miles in extent, I passed only one comfort- 

 able rick-yard, and moderately respectable live stock. 

 At one place on the estate of Mr Crosby of Ardfert, 

 some draining and enclosing was going on ; but with 

 these exceptions there seemed no industry whatever, 

 other than the traffickers in turf. Improvements, I was 

 told, are going on at some distance from, and out of 

 sight of, the mail-road. 



That the people in this part of Kerry are suffering 

 most severely from the consequences of the famine, no 

 one can doubt who travels along the road. I was told 

 by a very intelligent person connected with the constabu- 

 lary, that in going through the country to make out their 

 annual returns of the cultivated crops, for the informa- 

 tion of Government, they find the greatest difference in 

 the state of the people, as compared with what it was 

 three or four years ago. Houses that were then com- 

 fortably furnished and provisioned, they find now with 

 not more than a single chair, and bereft of the most 

 common articles of furniture ; while, in the matter of 

 provisions, the people are reduced to the very humblest 

 fare, living on turnips as their principal food. The 

 children, who followed the car to beg, had generally 

 rather a healthy and cheerful appearance ; though now 

 and then one saw the pinched features and crouched 



