Browne — The Ethnographj/ of Garunina and Lettenmdlen. 265 



YI. — Archjeologt. 



These islands contain but few monuments or ancient buildings, 

 but on the other hand are rich in survivals, the seclusion of the islands, 

 the poverty of the people, and their overcrowding having caused their 

 mode of life to remain in a very primitive state, and preserved in use 

 many ancient implements and articles of daily use. 



1. Survivals. — The poorest class of houses are a survival of a state 

 of things which is fortunately becoming a thing of the past almost 

 everywhere else. The straw mats used for cutting off the draught 

 from the door on the windy side of the houses, the use of querns for 

 grinding malt or barley meal, the spinning-wheels, cords, warp frames, 

 and rude looms are the principal survivals among domestic implements, 

 if we except i\\eslish, a beetle or paddle used for beating clothes when 

 washing them, as described in the report on Inishbofin, and the use of 

 tomespun clothing, the dyes of which are in part still obtained from 

 local sources as well as the fashion of the garments. The dress of the 

 young boys seems to be almost identical in form with the woollen 

 frocks dug up out of bogs and preserved in the Academy's Museum. 

 The flat cap, too, and the pampooties or sandals of raw hide are other- 

 remains of ancient costume, as are the mittauns or footless stockings- 

 worn on working days by the women. Tlie so-called " Claddagh '* 

 rings worn by some of the women have been mentioned before. 



The method of winnowing is the same as that described as still in 

 use in Inishbofin. 



Curraghs of the usual west coast type still remain in use in some 

 of the fishing villages. The anclior used for them is an oblong stone 

 fixed in a V-shaped wooden frame. Mention has before been made of 

 the memorial cairns raised where a funeral has stopped. 



2. Antiquities. — As has been before remarked, these are few in 

 number. There are two old churches, one which is almost complete 

 and is situated in a hollow just below the village of Trabane. It is a 

 small building of uncertain date, and is reputed by tradition to have 

 been built by one of the M'Donoghs. The other, whicli appears to be 

 an older building, is situated in a very picturesque spot at Shanvalla. 

 It is in a very ruinous condition, only the gable walls being left 

 standing. It has a flat-topjied doorway in the west gable, and a fine 

 splayed window^ in the east one. This is the Oilither church, or 

 clurch of the pilgrims, mentioned by OTlaherty. In Lettermullen 

 stands all that remains, only two very ruinous walls, of the old 



