Browne — The Ethnocjrapluj of Oarumna and Ldtermnllen. 249 



places between the larger rocks. Even these small plots are rendered 

 still smaller by being cut np by rocks cropping to the surface, by large 

 boulders, and by heaps of loose stones gathered off the land. The land 

 is cropped alternately with potatoes and barley or oats until the yield 

 begins to fail, when the spot is let run fallow and another plot is 

 cultivated instead. The principal manure is "black weed" {Fucus 

 resiculosus), which is brought to the land from the seashore in basket 

 loads on the backs of women, the distance it has to be brought varying 

 with the proximity or otherwise of the plot to the shore. The men 

 gather the weed, the women carry it. It need not be said that there 

 is none but spade labour. The fences are lacework walls of loose 

 stones similar to those to be seen generally in Connemara; they are 

 not always sufficient, and on this account the sheep are constantly 

 hobbled, and frequently trespass on the crops. There are considerable 

 stretches of commonage, on which are kept a number of small, weak- 

 looking sheep, mainly for their wool, and some cattle, also of a poor 

 description. The number of sheep per family averages from 5 to 20. 

 About ten per cent, of the families have no cattle. 



Yery few pigs are kept, and only about one family in every twelve 

 has a horse or a donkey. Fowl and geese are kept, the former being 

 a source of income through the eggs, large quantities of which are 

 exported from this district. Very few ducks are to be seen. Cattle 

 and fowl are taken into the houses for the night, and the pig, if there 

 be one, has often a snug place by the fireside. The sheep are left to 

 find shelter how they can. The cattle are sent out of the islands to 

 the mountains in the late autumn. As before stated they are small 

 and weak, and the mortality among them in winter is high. They 

 are subject to two diseases, locally termed " the cripple " and "pine," 

 to which my attention was first directed by my friend, Mr. Gr. H. 

 Kinahan. The "cripple" attacks cattle on the mountains, and from 

 what I could ascertain from inquiries seems to be simply rheumatism. 

 The " pine " is simply starvation from insufficient food, and occurs in 

 the islands. 



Only a couple of villages in Garumna are composed of fishermen by 

 profession, but practically all the men of Lettermullen fish for lobsters, 

 using lobster pots made of osiers grown in small swampy spots on the 

 islands, and from furze stems. Prom those osiers, too, are made the 

 baskets and creels so largely used. The prices got for lobsters, which 

 are sold to local dealers, are from half-a-crown a dozen for lobsters 

 under 11 inches in length, and five shillings for those of larger size, 

 in the summer months ; up to ten shillings a dozen in winter. 



