106 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. 



of vhich any description could be got, were the treatment of fairy- 

 "sliot" animals described above, and tbe tying of the "worm-knot" 

 ■with, the object of destroying entoparasites. 



2. Legends and Traditions. — As has been already stated, there are 

 a good many local traditions, mostly of a minor character ; but, owing 

 to the reticence of the people on this subject, only a few could be 

 obtained, the chief of which have been recorded by Mr. ilaxwell. 

 The "Legend of Knock-a-Thample " is still told practically as given 

 in his well-known work, "The Wild Sports of the "West," and the 

 grave of the "Eed Pedlar" pointed out. Tales are told of a daring 

 robber who, in past times, lived in a cave in the mountains, and who 

 was at last hunted down and killed. Lough Curafin, in the mountains, 

 is said by the country people to owe its origin to the massacre of a 

 priest and his people (in the time of Cromwell, they say) on the spot 

 where the lake now is ; the ground sank down and the water covered 

 it, thus forming the lough. The water is dark- coloured, and the 

 people say that waves are on it even on the calmest days when there 

 is no wind ; they also say that the fish in it will never take a fly. 

 Strange to say, though such a conspicuous character as Grace 

 O'Malley held the Castle of Doona, and lived for some years there, 

 local tradition is almost dumb about her ; the story of a fight in 

 the courtyard, where the O'Malleys captured the castle from the 

 M'Mahons, seems to be almost the only trace of her memory which 

 is preserved here ; while a few mUes off, in Achill, there are many 

 legends about her. This is probably due to the ancestors of the 

 present population supplanting the aborigines. 



VI. — Aech^ologt. 



This district contains much that is interesting to the archaeologist, 

 but, as in. former reports of this nature, all that can be done here is 

 to indicate what is worthy of notice to those who make Irish 

 antiquities their study. 



1. Survivals. — Owing to the greater comfort of the people, these 

 are fewer than in the northern part of the barony. Querns are no 

 longer in use, though they were until quite recently ; the type of 

 wool-wheel, the sheep-skin sieve, panniers on the horses' backs, and 

 the use of hooped piggins are the chief amongst the remaining articles 

 not yet deposed by our modem appKances. The clothing has been 

 before referred to. One article still in use is worthy of notice, the 

 otter, an implement of very ancient origin in Ireland, is used some- 

 times for fishing in the fresh-water lakes. 



