Description of an Irish Inn. 323 



thians, who let their horses blood under their 

 ears, and drink their blood. The wild Irish 

 seldom kill a cow to eate ; and if perhaps they 

 kill one for that purpose, they distribute it all 

 to be devoured at one time ; for they approve 

 not the orderly eating at meals, but so they may 

 eate enough when they are hungry they care 

 not to fast long," 



Habit, assisted by necessity, accommodates 

 man to every species of endurance ! It was the 

 misfortune of this inn to be furnished with 

 bells ; and as there were several parties in great 

 want, and only one individual to wait on them, 

 the exercise of all the patience with which the 

 guests were endowed was on this occasion indis- 

 pensable : that this requisite and valuable quality 

 was exhausted, became evinced by an incessant 

 ringing for the waiter, whose stoicism did not 

 appear to be disturbed by the clamor, which 

 would have distracted the most phlegmatic of 

 mortals. We were in haste to depart, and after 

 he had disposed of other demands on his atten- 

 tion, according to the precedence of others or 

 his own pleasure, he brought us pen and paper 

 to write down what refreshments we had receiv- 

 ed. In affixing his price to the several items, 

 we plainly perceived his charges were to be re- 



Y2 



