146 



* LETTER XIII. 



Balla Mona, August 21, 1813'. 



THE singular appearance of the mountains 

 which approach Ballymoney, seemed to indicate 

 the commencement of the Basaltic country. 

 For ten miles we passed over a very high and 

 poor surface, after which we descended into the 

 bog of Culdee, deriving its name, as it is sup- 

 posed, from a religious order of Culdees. In 

 the Celtic, the word imports " the espoused of 

 God : " its extent is very considerable, and 

 comprises many thousand acres.. 



From the successful appearance of the recently 

 made improvements, on several parts of the bog, 

 little doubt can be entertained, that the whole 

 might be brought under tillage. The principal 

 means by which the crops at present are raised, 

 are the ashes procured by the burning of its 

 upper surface, which is unattended with any 

 great labor. Round a space from six to ten 

 feet in diameter, a trench of a foot deep, and of 



