4 1 6 Lakes of Killarncy. 



comprehensible it was overpowering ! Figure 

 to yourself the towering mass rising almost per- 

 pendicularly from its base to an elevation of 

 three thousand six hundred and ninety-five feet, 

 overshadowing the translucent waters of the 

 lake. Such is the height of M'Gilly Cuddy's 

 Reeks, one of the most elevated mountains in 

 Ireland, whose line of summit is so indented, 

 as to render it difficult on which point to fix 

 as that most entitled to pre-eminence. This 

 mountain is accompanied by many others, little 

 inferior in loftiness, and magnitude. One vast 

 uninterrupted expanse of purple heath over- 

 spreads the upper regions, while the base is 

 luxuriantly fringed with the evergreen arbutus, 

 and other trees. 



The sun. which shone resplendently on our 

 arrival at Ronnayson's Island, was but little 

 above the horizon of the mountain : his decline 

 irradiated the whole expanse of heath as with 

 a sheet of burnished gold ; whilst a superadded 

 brightness illuminated all its prominent parts. 

 Profusely grand was this luxurious moment 

 the next, the refulgent orb sank behind the 

 elevated mass. This was not foreseen, and 

 produced a greater effect than if it had been 

 anticipated for it seemed the operation of en- 

 chantment 



