1S98-99.] 4*>i 



The district we explored is still rich in antiquarian remains, 

 although within living memory very many may have been 

 deliberately destroyed. It behoves all who are interested in 

 Irish Antiquities to do what they can to carefully maintain all 

 the monuments that are left. 



Perhaps there is no part of Ireland, and therefore in no part 

 of the British Isles or elsewhere, where there are so many 

 souterrains, or underground dwellings, as in the district we 

 refer to. Almost every rath or fort has one attached, and many 

 more occur disconnected from any other form of ancient 

 structure. They are as a rule constructed of field stones or such 

 other kind of stones as can be had in the locality ; but many of 

 those in the Valley of the Sixmilewater are excavated out of 

 the volcanic ash or decomposed basalt that occurs in the district. 

 The one at Rathmore, as well as the one at Donegore, are so 

 constructed. The plans of all souterrains are very much alike, 

 and consist mainly of a passage four or five feet wide and six 

 or more high, off which branch chambers six to eight feet wide, 

 and up to twenty feet long, and seven or eight feet high. The 

 entrance to the chambers from the main passage are reduced to 

 openings, two feet square, or even less, and often similarly 

 constructed openings occur in the main passage. Similar so- 

 called " dwellings " occur in Cornwall and in Scotland ; in the 

 latter place they are called Picts' houses, or weems. In both 

 countries, as with us, they have excited various speculations as 

 to their real use. Dr. Hill Burton, in his History of Scotland, 

 says, with reference to them — " If we adopt what is said by 

 Ptolemy and other ancient geographers, and in some measure 

 sanctioned by modern travellers, about a troglodytic or cavern- 

 living population in Arabia, we may suppose that we have here 

 the actual dwellings occupied by a race of like habits at the 

 opposite extremity of the globe " In the district we traversed 

 these souterrians are called u coves." 



Our party paid a visit to Rathmore, which is an excellent 

 example of the ancient Irish fort. From its rath or mound a 

 magnificent view of the surrounding country was obtained, a 



