326 Florin called Bottom Grass by the Irish. 



ing the head of an aged person with her nails. 

 We had observed the same operation perform- 

 ing on children ; the like practice was noticed 

 by Moryson, who says, " And let no man won* 

 der that they were lowsie, for never any barba- 

 rous people were found in all kinds more slovenly 

 than they are. Nothing is more common among 

 them, than for the men to lie on the women's 

 laps on green hills, till they kill their lice with 

 great nimbleness." What can convey a more 

 loathsome yet correct idea of the wretchedness 

 then endured by these poor people ? 



In several of the meadows we observed a 

 great proportion of florin : whilst we were exa- 

 mining one of them a respectably dressed man 

 came tip, of whom we inquired if the florin was 

 naturally there, or had been introduced by cul- 

 tivation. He did not appear to be at all ac- 

 quainted with the name of the grass. On show- 

 ing him a specimen, he said it was known by 

 the name of bottom grass, and was the sponta- 

 neous production of the bogs. 



We had a long acclivity to ascend before we 

 reached Westport. From the summit of the 

 hill a most commanding view is obtained of the 

 town, the bay, and the surrounding mountain 

 scenery. The late Marquis of Sligo, who was 



