Bad Roads encountered for the first time. 281 



We could not learn the cause whence arose 

 this scene of desolation. It may possibly arise 

 from a refusal to renew the lease under which 

 the land is held, which may render the party in 

 possession wholly indifferent as to the state 

 in which it may be resigned at the expiration 

 of his term ; for it is utterly impossible a pro- 

 prietor would allow an estate over which he 

 had any control, and with a knowledge of its 

 situation, to remain in so deplorable a con- 

 dition. 

 Aw oib f >3t * r-j it* w? tw* 



Nothing could have exceeded the goodness 

 of the roads over which we had passed, until 

 we entered on the property of Lord Palmer- 

 ston, where we found them so bad as to be 

 scarcely passable. The attention to weeding 

 of crops, though time is of so little value, is not 

 greater than what is paid to the repairs of the 

 roads. In a small field of wheat, not exceeding 

 two acres, I attempted to calculate the number 

 of docks among the grain, but found the task 

 too great. Turf was leading in creels on horses* 

 backs from the bog, of which in this neigh- 

 bourhood there are thousands of acres. A 

 considerable quantity of kelp is burned on the 

 sea shore for the purpose of obtaining alkaline 

 salt. 



