384 WILD SPORTS OF THE WEST. 



produced by its agencies, and the lowest occupations 

 of human labour are transacted by powers unknown 

 to our fathers, there are extensive tracts upon the western 

 portions of the island, where even a mill has never 

 been erected, and where the corn is prepared for distil- 

 lation or food by the same rude methods used by 

 barbarous nations one thousand years ago. Trituration 

 between two stones, by the hand labour of an individual, 

 is the means employed to reduce the corn into meal ; 

 and the use of that ancient hand-mill the querney is still 

 general throughout Ballycroy and the islands on the 

 coast. 



The inhabitants of this district are extremely hos- 

 pitable to passing travellers, but by no means fond of 

 encouraging strangers to sojourn permanently among 

 them. This latter inherent prejudice may arise from 

 clannish feelings, or ancient recollections of how much 

 their ancestors were spoliated by former settlers, who 

 by artifice and the strong hand managed to possess the 

 better portions of the country. They are also absurdly 

 curious and will press their questions with American 

 pertinacity, until, if possible, the name, rank, and 

 occasion of his visit, is fully and faithfully detailed 

 by the persecuted traveller. 



The credulity of these wild people is amazing, and 

 their avidity for news, if possible, exceeded by the 

 profound reliance they place in the truth of the intel- 

 ligence. Hence, the most absurd versions of passing 

 events circulate over the district — and reports prevail, 

 by turns, of a ridiculous or mischievous tendency, 

 generally according to the mental temperament of the 

 story-teller. 



It formerly was not uncommon for people in the 



