Lrowne — llie EtlniograpJiij of Ganiuuia and Letterjnullen. 259 



not ignorance or laziness, but lack of means. Spinning wlieels are 

 not to be found in every house ; about one family in eight or ten has 

 one, but they are lent from house to house. Querns are to be seen in 

 a few houses, but are becoming very scarce now. 



In the northern end of (7aruinna the houses are larger and better' 

 than in the rest of the island, and are thatched in a diifcrent manner, 

 the thatch being held down by bands or ropes of twisted osier held 

 in place by pegs. 



6. Transport. — Formerly all communication between the islands 

 and the mainland had to be by boat, and boats are still largely used, 

 and vary in type with the locality. In one village, only curraghs are 

 in use, which are sailed whenever possible, and usually carry three 

 men. Heavy rowing and sailing boats are used for conveying weed for 

 kelp, hookers are used by the sho])keepers for conveying goods to and 

 from Galway, they are also used for taking turf to Aran and Clare, and 

 for fishing, but boats of about four tons termed, according to their rig, 

 pookhauns and glouthoges are more used for these purposes. These 

 boats are built on the islands. The curraghs are of good size, and they 

 take twenty yards of tarred canvass to cover them. The cost is- 

 £4 5s. 



For internal traffic there are but few beasts of burden, there being- 

 only thirty -five horses, and fifty donkeys in Garumna, and only five 

 horses and two donkeys in Lettermullen, so the greater part of the work 

 of carrying tuif, sea-weed, &c., is performed by human beings, these 

 things being carried in baskets on the backs of human beings. Before 

 the new roads and causeways were constructed there were no wheeled 

 vehicles on the islands, and even now there are only two carts, both 

 belonging to Mr. P. M'Donogh, j.p. The beasts of burden carry their 

 loads in cleeves^ or panniers slung from a wooden frame over a straw 

 saddle or pad. 



The islands are now connected with one another, and the mainland, 

 by a series of causeways and swing bridges constructed by the Govern- 

 ment. Before their completion in 1897 the islands were difficult 

 of access. The old roadways were only rough foot tracks ofteni 

 obstructed by rocks, and very rough and irregular. Roads were laid 

 out and commenced in 1847, but until 1889 they were not completed.. 

 Since then good roads have been and are being laid down, partly as- 

 Government works, and partly by means of the relief funds raised in 

 times of distress like last year. 



Before the construction of the causeway between Lettermore and 

 Garumna people who wanted to get across the channel, if they could 



E.r.A. PEOC, SKE. III., vol. Y. T 



