i88i.i882.] 103 



about equally divided between the perpendicular wall of basalt 

 and the talus of debris, which reaches from its base to the sea. 

 The "grey man's path" is a natural cleft in the headland, pro- 

 bably formed by the weathering out of a dyke of basalt of later 

 date than the columnar cliffs. Here the party divided, the 

 majority returning by Lough-na-Cranagli, where the cars were 

 awaiting, while others, bent on making the most of the evening, 

 descended the grey man's path to the base of the columns. On 

 the way down, almost under the monolith with which nature 

 has spanned the chasm, was found in some profusion the Welsh 

 poppy {Meconopsis cambricd) — a rare northern plant. Picking 

 their way over or around the blocks, as circumstances allowed, 

 those who descended the cliff soon found they had undertaken a 

 severe evening's work. The scene is one of wild grandeur, the 

 cliffs on one hand towering up quite perpendicular to their 

 giddy height, while far below, over the ruins of fallen columns, 

 the sea was surging in regular swellings from the ocean. The 

 greatest care is necessary on this route to avoid the many 

 chasms among the blocks. Ferns and other wild plants often 

 hide these dangerous pitfalls, and some anxiety was felt, as 

 evening was closing in, to bring this part of the journey to an 

 end. A halt was made at the stream which finds its way down 

 from Lough Doo (Black Lough), and it was decided to ascend by 

 its course, and take the way on the leveller ground above. 

 Night setting in, accompanied by mists and rain, gave true 

 character to this dismal sheet of water termed a lough ; but the 

 main feature now in view was to get into Ballycastle, some five 

 miles off. After considerable wanderings over craggy and 

 boggy ground, a house was reached, and, under the pilotage of 

 a light-footed damsel, the road by the collieries close to the sea 

 was gained after ten o'clock, and some distance on, a car, sent 

 out in search, was met, which soon brought the rambling section 

 to the hotel, where some anxiety had been created by their 

 prolonged absence. 



To reach Rathlin Island was the aim of the second day's 

 work, but the morning opening with wind and heavy rain made 



