100 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



This fidelity and devotion on the one side is requited 

 by kindness and protection on the other. These men 

 have lived about the Lodge from boyhood — and they 

 come and depart as they please. At spring and harvest- 

 times they repair to the village where their parents 

 reside, to assist the old couple and the girls in getting 

 the potatoes in and out of the ground ; they tend the 

 cattle in the mountains when requisite, and pass the 

 remainder of the year following the Master to the moors 

 or to the river, catching fish, netting rabbits, or killing 

 wild-fowl in the winter ; and dancing, drinking, and 

 fighting on holidays and festivals, as becomes good men 

 and loyal subjects. 



When they marry — ^for Malthus and restrictions upon 

 population are no more recognised in Erris than the Pope 

 is by a modern Methodist — they will obtain a patch of 

 mountain from their patron, erect a cabin, construct 

 a still, and setting political dogmas at defiance, then and 

 there produce most excellent whisky, and add to the 

 " seven millions " considerably. 



The messenger presented himself with the post-bag, 

 being anxious to render a personal account of the causes 

 of his delay. His night's adventure is quite character- 

 istic of the wild life and bold and reckless spirit of these 

 mountain peasants. 



The route to the next post-town liee through the ridge 

 of hills which I have already described, as bounding the 

 valley where we are quartered. The usual way to reach 

 it is by an old and rugged horse-path, which, although 

 seldom frequented now, was fifty years since the only 

 means of communication which Erris had with the 

 southern baronies. This easier but more circuitous 

 route was abandoned by the young peasant, who hoped 



