THE FALLS OF BALLYSHANNON. 271 



assembled there, including several who, 

 having made Cockburn's their head -quar- 

 ters, instead of visiting it occasionally like 

 the Squire and his party, were distinguished 

 generally as Ballyshannoners, 



They could not well have chosen a more 

 lovely spot. Standing on a level with the 

 river at the top of the fall, you look down 

 over a scarped rock on the estuary into 

 which it empties itself. The height of the 

 rock may be some thirty feet, and the turf 

 which clothes its top is as smooth as velvet. 

 There is a peculiarity in all the rivers of 

 this coast, that they throw themselves into 

 the sea over a ridge of rocks, thus forming 

 a waterfall more or less beautiful according 

 to the quantity of water discharged, and the 

 height from which it has to fall. In the 

 Erne the body of water is considerable, and 

 the height, varying according to the state 

 of the tide, from twelve to thirty feet. 



On this particular evening the tide was at 

 its highest, and the salmon, being now best 

 able to master the fall, were in full activity, 

 forcing their entrance into the river. What- 

 ever may be the reason, a salmon seldom 

 attempts this feat singly ; it would appear as 



