96 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



The moral character of the people is very good, as illegitimacy, 

 though not imkno-wTi, is of very rare occurrence. There is practically 

 no crime in the district, and it is a long time since any serious ofPence 

 was committed there. They are said to be devout in their religious 

 observance. 



This section may be concluded by quoting the accounts given of 

 the people by -writers on the district. Mr. Knight's description,' 

 ■written sixty years ago, is practically accurate as applied to the people 

 at the present day. He says that they are "bold, daring, and intrepid 

 in danger ; not good-tempered, but hospitable to an extreme. A 

 stranger seldom enters their country without having the usual salute 

 of 'you are welcome to the country, stranger,' given him, be he known 

 or not. They are considered generally very intelligent, and haviag 

 that degree of cleverness and acuteness, particularly in bargaining, said 

 to be peculiar to their northern origin. They are the material of a 

 fine people, if properly managed." 



With this account, that given by the novelist Maxwell (long a 

 resident in the district) closely tallies. "Writing a little earlier in 

 the century he says^: — 



" The inhabitants of this district are extremely hospitable to 

 passing travellers, but by no means fond of encouraging strangers to 

 sojourn permanently among them. This latter inherent prejudice 

 may arise from clannnh feelings, or ancient recollections of how 

 much their ancestors were spoliated by former settlers, who, by 

 artifice and the strong hand, managed to possess the better portions 

 of the country. They are also absurdly curious, and will press 

 their questions with American pertinacity, until, if possible, the 

 name, rank, and occasion of his visit, is fully and faithfully detailed 

 by the persecuted traveller. 



" On the score of propriety of conduct, I would assign the female 

 peasantry of this district a high place. When the habits of the 

 countiy are considered, one would be inclined to suspect that exces- 

 sive drinking, and the frequent scenes of nocturnal festivities which 

 wakes and dances present, would naturally lead to much immorality. 

 This, however, is not the case : broken vows will, no doubt, occa- 

 sionally require the interference of the magistrate or the priest ; but 

 generally the lover makes the only reparation in his power, and 

 deceived females or deserted children are seldom seen in Erris." 



' Erris, p. 106. 



2 ''Wild Sports of the West," Chap, xlvii. 



