SEAL EATING A SALMON. 293 



to eat, and were most inquisitive, turning over all 

 the old crab-shells and other shells that had been 

 washed up by the tide, and peeping and poking 

 their long, lean, hungry noses into everything they 

 came near. They looked as if, had there been 

 plenty of them, we might have shared the fate of 

 Bishop Hatto in his castle on the Rhine. 



And now, good reader, having told of killing 

 and skinning and eating seals ; of Ballina and its 

 inhabitants ; and them wild boys from Crosmolina, 

 hurling stones, and bad luck to them ; the brewing 

 of poteen, and my successful transporting of the 

 same to England ; having paid my small tribute 

 to Paddy's honesty, and my regret to think that 

 such good boys at heart, by nature, should be led 

 away to pot landlords, and engage in other 

 nefarious practices ; I will, in conclusion, say 



"Farewell to its fields decked with emerald green. 

 Farewell to old Ireland, the land of poteen" 



It is true that many years have elapsed since the 

 anecdotes I have related took place ; but they all 

 come as vividly before my eyes as if they had 

 happened only yesterday. I was then young and 

 full of go ; and though crippled by a stiff hip from 



