318 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



The inquiry was conducted on almost exactly the same lines as 

 that of last year ; the slight differences of method being either due to 

 changes made as the result of former experience or to local causes ; 

 but every effort was made to ensure as great uniformity as possible, a 

 matter of much importance as facilitating comparison of results. 



In this report the same headings as used in the previous one, and 

 arranged in the same order, have been adhered to as closely as possible, 

 so as to allow of easy reference. 



II. — Physiography of the Islands. 



The two islands under consideration, together with several small 

 uninhabited islets, form the parish of Inishbofin ; they are situated 

 outside the mouth of Killary Bay, and are distant some thirty-six 

 miles from Westport, and about sixteen miles from Clifden, Co. 

 Gralway, the nearest town of any size. The post town is Cleggan, a 

 small village on a point of the mainland, about seven miles from 

 Inishbofin. Of the two main islands Inishbofin (locally called Bofin 

 or Bofiin) is much the larger, as out of the total area of the parish 

 of 3151 acres, it contains 2312. 



Its greatest length is about four miles, and it varies in breadth 

 from half a mile to over two miles. The nature of its coast line i& 

 greatly varied ; at some places, as at Knock-quarter or East End, 

 being low and sandy ; at others, as on the north side, and at Dun More 

 on the western extremity, being rocky, at times rising into high and 

 jagged cliflts worn into coves and natural bridges; while, again, in 

 other places it is high bluff overhanging a shingly foreshore. The 

 harbour is very safe and well sheltered, and looks S.W. The coast of 

 Shark, which lies about a mile S.W. of Inishbofin, is much more 

 rocky, and may be said to be precipitous nearly all round, and much 

 broken into by caves and deep fissures a few yards wide, with precipi- 

 tous overhanging walls. It is difiicult to land on this island if the 

 weather be at all rough, and the inhabitants are often stormbound for 

 weeks at a time. The difficulty and danger of landing is not so great 

 as it used to be since the building of a new pier by the Government 

 as a relief work in 1892. Mr. Michael Lavelle, writing about the 

 natives of this island, says : — " It is very hard for these people ta 

 live ; they may be two months before they can go to Boffin to get some 

 commands, and they live during that time on potatoes and ' white 

 wine.' " 



The principal rock of both islands is gneiss, but belts of steatite are 

 also found. 



