356 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



stools, and a rough table or two, with, a dresser containing a scanty 

 assortment of coarse earthenware, a spinning-wheel, and a quilting- 

 frame, constitute the furniture of the kitchen. In one corner is a pile 

 of turf for fuel, on which the fowl roost, and above the couples are 

 stored the dried fish, &c., for the winter's use, and the agricultural 

 and piscatorial implements. 



The domestic utensils consist of the usual large three-legged pot, 

 slung on a crook over the fixe, a griddle, a frying-pan, and, perhaps, 

 a quern, a boran or sieve of sheepskin stretched over a wicker 

 frame, and a couple of skids or shallow, circular wicker baskets. The 

 furniture of the bedroom, or rooms, consists of a couple of tent beds ; 

 a few chairs and, perhaps, a small table. There is very rarely a loft 

 to the house. At night the cattle, fowl, and pigs are taken into the 

 kitchen, the pigs being accommodated in a pen beside the fire-place, 

 while the cattle are fastened at the opposite side of the room. 



6. Transport. — The roads are good, and extend over a large part of 

 the islands, but are only used for foot traffic and cattle, as there are 

 no wheeled vehicles of any description, and all goods are carried 

 either in hampers slung on the back, the usual method of taking home 

 potatoes, &c., or in two wicker panniers or cleaves, slung across the back 

 of a pony or donkey, one or other of which is owned by nearly every 

 family. The harness of these animals is home-made, and of primitive 

 design, the panniers, manufactured from osiers grown on the islands, 

 being slung from pegs on a wooden frame, beneath which, to protect 

 the animal's back, is a thick straw mat saddle. Both sexes ride on the 

 horses behind the panniers, and both adopt the same position, a side- 

 ways posture, the men not riding astride. 



The method of taking home the harvest is picturesque; the ponies 

 have cloths hung over their faces to prevent their eating the grain, 

 and are then literally clothed with sheaves, which are hung all round 

 them, and piled up so as to give them the appearance of walking 

 straw stacks. 



For water transport there are a good many boats of various 

 descriptions, the primary [use of which is for fishing; only one, the 

 post-boat, which goes thrice a week to the mainland if the weather 

 permits, being regularly used for transport. 



The number and classification of the boats are, it is believed, given 

 correctly below, but it was difficult to get any two accounts to agree. 



There are five hookers, seven pookauns,^ fifteen curraghs, one 

 yawl, and about thirty rowing-boats. 



1 An undecked sailing-boat, cutter rigged. 



