Gold and Petrifactions near Lough Neagh. 129 



charges its waters near Coleraine. On the 

 shores of the Lough are found petrifactions of 

 wood j much discussion as to their origin has 

 taken place, some contending that they are 

 consequent on a petrifying agency in the soil, 

 while others impute the transmutation to cer- 

 tain mineral springs which rise in the Lough. 

 Gerard Boate, in his Natural History of Ireland, 

 published in 1649, says, " I cannot omit the 

 credible assurance that was given me of the 

 gathering of a dram of pure gold out of the 

 brook of Miola, which rises in the hills of Slew- 

 galen, and falls into the north-west corner of 

 Lough Neagh." Whence he reasonably infers, 

 " that in the aforesaid mountains rich gold 

 mines do lie hidden." Although this observa- 

 tion of Boates does not apply to the changing 

 of wood into stone, it indicates the presence 

 of minerals in the neighbourhood of the Lough, 

 and makes it more than probable that the petri- 

 factive effects on wood may thence be derived. \ 



The little traffic that is carried on here is 

 chiefly confined to the heavy articles of coal, 

 grain, &c. which would probably be extended 

 were the obstructions in the Bann removed, and 

 the navigation improved ; the water at present 

 being shoal and the shores difficult of access. 

 Were a more free and unobstructed passage to 



VOL. I. K 



