THE WEST, PAST AND PRESENT. 385 



islands to live and die without ever having seen a town. 

 Of course, they were a simple and unsophisticated 

 race and their natural mistakes, if they did by accident 

 come in collision with other beings, were the source 

 of many an inland jest. One very old story is told, 

 in which an Achil man is the hero ; and as to its truth, 

 old Antony would as soon have doubted the existence 

 of the holy trout in Kilgeever,* as have questioned its 

 authenticity. 



An islander was once obliged to go into the town of 

 Castlebar upon business ; and among other marvellous 

 things which there met his sight, he was particularly 

 struck with the appearance of an earthen jar in a shop- 

 window. He inquired what this unknown article might 

 be, and was informed that it was a mare's egg, which 

 if placed beside the fire during the winter, would infal- 

 libly produce a foal the ensuing spring. The price 

 was moderate, and the Achil man determined to possess 

 the treasure, and thus become master of a horse. Having 

 effected the purchase, he set out on his way rejoicing 

 and before evening fell, came within view of his own 

 home, and sat down upon a heathy bank to rest himself. 

 He placed his recent acquisition beside him but alas ! 

 from its spherical form, it rolled down the hill, and, 

 striking against a rock at the bottom, was shivered by 

 the blow. A hare which had couched beneath the stone, 

 startled at the crash, sprang from her form, and went 

 off at speed. The unhappy Achil man gazed in an 

 agony of despair, after what he believed the emancipated 

 quadruped and then exclaimed with a bitter groan, 

 " Mona mon diaoul ! What a horse he would have 



* A sacred well in the west, tenanted by a trout of surpassing 

 sanctity. 



