l8o [Proc. B.N.F.C, 



J. Knowles, M.R.I.A., and the Rev. George Buick, A.M., local 

 members, who gave assistance throughout the day. No time 

 was lost in mounting the machines and driving through the 

 town, going by the old road past Drumfane Fort to Brough- 

 shane, stopping at the quarry to examine the glacial sands and 

 gravels. The current beddi ag is here finely displayed owing 

 to the recent weathering ; the softer strata have been taken full 

 advantage of by the martins, who have burrowed in and made 

 their nests in numbers. The next halt was made at the church 

 of Broughshane, to the east of which is the cross-marked grave 

 of the club's late president, Rev. Canon Grainger, whose kindly 

 welcome and local information was missed on this, the first, 

 occasion, of the club's visit to " Canon Grainger's country " 

 since his demise. The slopes of Slieve Mis (1,437 feet) were 

 soon reached, and its heights ascended. This is an old volcanic 

 neck, and from its vent doubtless partly flowed that basalt 

 which forms such a feature of our County Antrim surface. 

 At Ballyligpatrick, between Skerry and Slieve Mis, Saint 

 Patrick, then a captive youth, herded the flocks of the Chieftain 

 Milchu for seven years, and here it was he dreamed those 

 dreams and saw the visions which were subsequently to be 

 realised. When Saint Patrick returned to Ireland on his 

 missionary labours he returned to the home of his former 

 owner in the valley of the Braid, there expecting to find Milchu, 

 and convert him and his household to Christianity. The 

 chieftain hearing of the fame of his former slave, dreaded his 

 coming, thinking Saint Patrick would enslave him in turn. 

 When the saint had mounted the slopes of Slieve Mis he found 

 Milchu had gathered his goods together like a funeral pyre, 

 and set fire to the same, with himself upon the top, perishing 

 in the flames. Saint Patrick gazed sadly for two hours upon 

 the sight, and then returned to Strangford. The summit of 

 the mountains bears traces of earth-work, but when these were 

 thrown up it is hard to say. They may be the work of some 

 rude Dalaradian tribe, who made this a stronghold in the 

 eighth century, for the Annals of the Four Masters informs us 



