Brow>;p: — Ethnogvaphij of hmhhofin and hmlmliark. 357 



Inishshark has about twelve boats of from one to two tons. The 

 natives of this island do not approve of the curragb, for wbich their 

 coast is too rocky. 



The ordinary rowing boat is manned by five men, the curragh by 

 three. 



The curragh is of the ordinary west coast type, consisting of a 

 light wooden frame covered with tarred canvas. 



VI. FOLK-LOKE. 



Of this interesting branch of the subject, I regret to be able to 

 give but little information, as the people are chaiy of talking upon 

 such matters to strangers, and only a local collector working for a con- 

 siderable time could be expected to gather much. Thanks, however, 

 to the kindness of the E,ev. Edward Lavelle, his brother Mr. Michael 

 Lavelle, Mr. Myles Joyce, the schoolmaster of the island, as well as 

 to several of the boatmen and others, I am enabled to give the follow- 

 ing few notes on the subject. The legendary lore of these islands, 

 especially Inishshark, has been very fully dealt with by Lady Wilde, 

 to whose work I must refer the reader. These notes, however, are new. 

 Omens and death -warnings, such as the banshee, the death-watch, and 

 as mentioned previously (p. 352), the giving of wood out of a house 

 to make a coffin foretelling the death of the giver, are fully believed in. 



Luck. — The sight of a red-haired woman or a cat, on starting out 

 in the morning, will bring bad luck to the fishing; and it is stated 

 that people have resorted to the expedient of getting a red-haired girl 

 to lie in wait for a rival, and cross his path as he was starting. 



To remove from one house to another is also looked upon as 

 decidedly unlucky ; but should a move become necessary, it is always 

 made on Monday to the eastward, and on Tuesday to the westward, 

 according to the Irish saying Luan Soir, agus Mart Siar (Monday, 

 eastward, and Tuesday, westward). Should any addition be made to 

 the dwelling it is always to the east, never to the west. 



It is extremely unlucky to break a looking-glass ; so also it is to 

 mention a priest, or a fox, or a hare while fishing. 



No man will buy a cow at the IS'ew Tear without putting some of 

 her milk into his boots, as otherwise she would certainly run dry. 



People born on Whit Sunday are thought to be exceptionally ill- 

 tempered. 



The evil-eye, also, is strongly believed in ; and if any one praises 

 either a child or a beast belonging to a native without saying " God 



