The Aran Islands 



years ago a quarrel arose from some trivial cause among a 

 number of men who were cutting the wrack, and in the fight 

 with knives that ensued no fewer than five persons were killed. 

 It is said also that the people of Innishmaan, being the most 

 primitive, were the last to become converted to Christianity 

 from among the Aran Islanders. A certain saint in the end 

 succeeded in half-converting them, and they commenced to 

 build a church. Before the edifice was completed, however, 

 the islanders began to doubt as to whether their conversion 

 was sincere, so, holding a meeting, they decided to test the 

 faith of the saint in the following manner : They agreed there 

 and then to throw over the cliff into the ocean the tools with 

 which the church was being built. For if, they argued, the 

 saint was indeed endowed with miraculous powers, he would 

 be able to recover the tools from the depths of the Atlantic. 

 The tools were accordingly hurled over the rocks, but it is 

 not recorded whether they were ever seen again. It is said, 

 however, that the irate saint roundly cursed the islanders for 

 their folly. 



At Kilronan is an excellent pier, but the tide was low and 

 so we dropped anchor in the bay and pulled ashore in the 

 small boat. Lining the pier was a dense crowd of people 

 awaiting our arrival. Many of the men were wearing broad 

 tam-o'-shanters, which are, I believe, made on the island 

 itself, and which used to be worn generally through all the 

 islands. Some of the islanders were wearing a curious shoe 

 of their own manufacture, which is known as a "pampooty." 

 It consists of a piece of raw cowhide, with the hair on the 

 outside, laced over the toe and round the heel with two ends 

 of fishing line, which work round and are tied above the 

 instep. When the pampooties are taken off at night they 

 are soaked in a basin of water, for the rough hide is apt to 

 cut the foot and stocking if allowed to harden. Wearing as 

 they do such light and pliable footgear, the islanders have 

 preserved the primitive and graceful walk which has been 

 lost elsewhere with the coming of the unromantic boot. 



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