XII INTRODUCTION. 



Irish kinsman, which was the head-quarters whence the 

 sporting expeditions described in his narrative were 

 made ; and pleasant, indeed, to his city eyes, must 

 have been the sight of the narrow creek, with the snug 

 thatched dwelling at the head of it where, although 

 the Atlantic spray sometimes drifted against the 

 windows, a great cliff broke the force of the sea winds, 

 and a high hill on the land side sheltered it from the 

 north. In the chilly evenings a turf fire burned in the 

 parlour hearth ; and there, by the light of dried bog- 

 deal added to the embers instead of candles, the sports- 

 man and his guests sat over excellent claret that had 

 never paid the revenue a farthing, or brewed toddy from 

 the more potent spirit which was at once the produce 

 and scourge of the district. The long roar of the 

 Atlantic breakers was their lullaby at night ; the cries 

 of wild birds and the cheerful hum of the farmyard 

 awoke them in the morning. From the windows they 

 could see the salmon flinging themselves over the 

 smooth tide as they hurried to the mouth of their native 

 river, or trace the outline of the Mayo hills where the 

 original red deer of Ireland were still existing. No 

 wonder the supposed stranger was delighted with the 

 place, and in the course of a day or two, had thoroughly 

 domesticated himself in it ; no wonder, after expedi- 

 tions to the mountain hut where they encamped for a 

 week or two, when in quest of the remoter game, or 

 after an expedition to Achil after grouse or sea-fowl 

 or rabbits, or snipe, or cock, he returned to it, as to a 



