Mode of sleeping in Connaught. 345 



is in the most primitive state of any part of 

 Ireland ; it is but recently that there were 

 roads for the admission of carts or carriages 

 into it. The King's writs are said, in jest, not 

 to run through Connomora. As a proof of the 

 primitive manners of the Joices, the following 

 account is given in a letter, published in 

 C. Walker's Historical Essay on Dress, from a 

 person said to have visited them in the year 

 1753 and 1754 ; "'and, though the letter is 

 anonymous, I take it for granted its credit was 

 fully established in the opinion of the publisher: 

 " The heath or bushes,, which they spread 

 across the floor, is in length sufficient for the 

 number present, and in breadth about six feet. 

 Over this litter the mistress of the house laid 

 part of a long plaid or blanket, on which 'the 

 others, having stripped off their clothes, lay 

 down as fast as they could, men and women 

 together, all naked; then the mistress having 

 drawn the rest of the blanket over them, lay 

 down last herself, naked also. This they call 

 a thoroughbed, and Mr. M. was the only per- 

 son who had ever before worn a shirt in it." 



M. 3r;d<n W' r 



Recent travellers, who have penetrated this 

 western district, represent it as highly roman- 

 tic, and possessing much grand and beautiful 

 scenery. There are many very excellent har- 



