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



precipitous rock, from which the view of the Roe Valley was 

 very beautiful. The Dog's Leap was then made for, where the 

 curious potholes below the bridge came in for a share of 

 observation, and where those members interested in engineering 

 (among whom W. A. Traill, of Portrush, was prominent) 

 enjoyed an inspection of the electric light station and sawmill 

 owned and worked by J. E. Ritter, J. P., to whom the club were 

 indebted for this pleasure. The dynamos are driven by a 

 turbine, the mill by an ordinary wheel, and a new pit is in 

 process of formation for an additional turbine. 



These modern erections gave rise to musings on the quick 

 changes of time, for on this spot stood the ancient stronghold of 

 the O'Cahans, once the dominant clan in these parts. Here 

 that princely house — a scion of the O'Neills — held sway until 

 the year 1607, when it was alleged against the then chieftain 

 that he was implicated in a plot with O'Neill, O'Donnell, and 

 others to overthrow the English power in Ireland. All the 

 northern princes then lost their territories, many their heads, 

 and the confiscation of their lands made easy the " Plantation 

 of Ulster." A pathetic incident is related of a visit to this same 

 stronghold by the Duchess of Buckingham, then Countess of 

 Antrim. The countess had raised 1,000 men amongst her lord's 

 yeomanry in the County Antrim to aid King Charles I. aud 

 was marching through Limavady. The countess visited 

 O'Cahan's wife, O'Cahan being a fugitive, and found that lady 

 in penury and want crouching in a corner of her ruined castle 

 the room filled with smoke, suffering from the rigours of the 

 weather. 



After enjoying the cool water of the Holy Well, the return 

 journey was begun, passing down the western side of the river 

 through woods where the most delightful views of water and 

 mountains were obtained. Here the botanists were pleased to 

 find a great profusion of Lastrcea cemula, a fern which is locally 

 uncommon. 



On leaving Roe Park a mile and a half or so brought the 

 party to the Alexander Arms, where tea was provided. After 



