

LOUGH DERG. 207 



little more than heath-covered rocks, afford- 

 ing no level surface for cultivation ; and, 

 besides, it is by no means a first-rate fishing 

 lake. The onlv boats, therefore, are those 

 employed in the service of the Purgatory ; 

 and the priests are rather disposed to limit 

 their numbers, and to secure the two or 

 three that they do possess in a neighbouring 

 island, lest the resolution of the penitents 

 should fail them during their trial, and they 

 should be tempted to desert and leave their 

 penance half-finished. 



The season of pilgrimage had hardly yet 

 commenced, and there were not above half- 

 a-dozen men and women collected on the 

 shore when the party arrived. Apparently 

 these people had been waiting there for 

 some time, not being in sufficient numbers 

 to make it worth while sending a boat for 

 them. But the arrival of the fishermen 

 produced an evident commotion on the 

 island ; and, after a great deal of confusion 

 and running about, a heavy, clumsy-looking 

 cot, which had been secured to a strong post 

 in the island by a still stronger chain and 

 padlock, was manned by two sturdy rowers, 

 and shoved off from the island shore. 



