124 BOTANICAL NOTES 
grounds (it was formerly a gentleman’s seat) without being pes- 
tered by importunities to buy what he does not want, or to accept 
of services which would only be an encumbrance to him. From 
what I have said, it will be understood that there are no pleasant 
varied walks about Killarney, no quiet evening stroll : you come to 
Killarney to admire, not to enjoy.. At Mucruss you may perhaps 
have more of this than at the other hotels. The road towards 
Mangerton exhibits some admirable views over the Lake and of 
the surrounding mountains; and to go along the old Kenmare 
road and turn off by a footpath which leads to the Mangerton 
road would-probably make a very delightful walk (I did not fol- 
low it), of moderate extent; but even here you are met with fre- 
quent notices against trespassing in Turk (or Tore) woods, and 
Turk woods form a forest which covers half the neighbourhood. | 
On this account Glengariff would be a more agreeable place at 
which to spend ten days or a fortnight than Killarney. 
While about these drawbacks to the pleasures of Killarney, I 
may as well notice the swarms of begging children which pester 
you wherever you go, and will follow you for miles im spite of 
anything you can say or do to get rid of them. It is true that 
they have the pretence of offermg you something; the girls have 
whisky and goat’s milk, which you are to drink whether you 
want it or not. They leave the price entirely to “ your honour ;” 
they cannot think of bargaining with a gentleman ; and then they 
will grumble and ask for more, whatever you may give them: 
The boys will show you what you cannot help seeing, or they are 
ready to guide you to places which you have no desire to visit, 
or they will give you names which you forget the next minute, 
and which are probably correct only as to the principal and best 
known objects. In England, when I have been watched by a set 
of boys, I have found some among them who would really observe 
what plant I was searching for, ant exert themselves to get spe- 
cimens. ‘There is nothin, of this among the Killarney boys. If 
they found I was palleebing flowers, they would gather bits of 
heath or of honeysuckle, both equally common, and assure me it 
was very pretty, and perhaps tell me what they imagined to be 
the English name. All these pretences do not make it the less 
beggary, and they probably get more by it than they could by 
honest labour. I will acknowledge, however, that they are not 
insolent or abusive, and they are never out of humour. 
