Browne — Ethnography of the Mullet, Inishkea, 8f PoHadoy. 625 



Dinner. — Tea and soda-bread, or fish, and potatoes. 



Supper. — Fish, and potatoes, "with buttermilk as a beverage, or 

 stirabout and milk. 



In the mountainous parts, potatoes and stirabout form, with tea 

 and boxty, the larger part of the dietary. In this region also the 

 poorer families do not usually take more than two meals a day during 

 the winter months. 



Butter, cheese, and eggs are but very little used, the eggs being 

 exported, and in some remote parts sometimes bartered to the small 

 dealers for tea, sugar, or tobacco, instead of being sold for money. 



In many parts a good deal of poteen is consumed, as illicit dis- 

 tilling, though much less common than formerly, still prevails to a 

 considerable extent. 



4. Clothing. — When seen in their holiday dress the people appear 

 to be well dressed, and almost over-clothed ; but the everyday working- 

 dress is, among the poorer part of the population, often of a very non- 

 descript, not to say ragged, character. 



At first sight there does not seem to be much homespuji worn, but 

 on closer inspection a great deal of it appears to be still in use, but 

 to be made up in modem style. It is usually dyed blue, but a good 

 deal of it is a natural grey made by mixing black and white wool, 

 and which, as it does not fade, is much in use. The costume of the 

 men varies much ; the old swallow- tailed coat with the metal buttons 

 is now seldom seen, being replaced by more modem patterns. The 

 trousers are either homespun or corduroy. Hats and caps of all 

 shapes are wom ; they are usually purchased in BelmuUet from local 

 shopkeepers who import them. Many of the men, on working days, 

 wear sHrts of a thick, white, homespun flannel. 



The men of Inishkea still retain a distinctive attire, their dress 

 being composed of a navy-blue homespun, of which shirt, vest, and 

 trousers are made ; many wear a loose blouse or frock of the same 

 material, which they prefer to " shop cloth," as they say it is 

 warmer, wears longer, and stands sea waler better ; it is certainly 

 more picturesque. 



A great deal of second hand clothing is sold on fair days to the 

 poorer class of people by " Cheap Jacks," who dispose of their wares 

 by a sort of Dutch auction. 



The men wear boots in every-day dress, but the women and children 

 do so only on Sundays, market-days, and holidays. It is a common 

 custom for women going to market in Belmullet to walk barefooted, 

 carrying their boots in their baskets until they reach the outskirts of 



