Irish Archaeology. 85 



for fourpence, and all other fowls rateable. Oysters, mussels, 

 cockles, about the sea coast are to be had for gathering in great 

 plenty." A very interesting description of Ireland about this 

 time (1588 to 1589) is given in a letter written by a Captain 

 Cuellar, a Spaniard. His vessel, with two others belonging to 

 the Armada, were wrecked on the coast of Siigo, and he escaped, 

 and travelled through a portion of Leitrim, Fermanagh, and 

 Tyrone until he reached O'Cahan's Castle, at Limavady. He 

 did not remain their, but ultimately escaped from the coast, at 

 or near Dunluce, from whence, with other Spanish refugees, he 

 reached Scotland, and ultimately Antwerp, where he compiled 

 this letter of his travels through Ireland. As to the mode of 

 living he says — " The people live in huts made of straw, the 

 men are big-bodied, with handsome features and limbs, active 

 and nimble as roe deer. They eat but one meal in the day, and 

 that at night. Their usual food is butter and oaten bread. 

 Their drink is sour milk, having none other. They do not 

 drink water, which is the best of all. They dress, after their 

 fashion, with tight hose and short coats (sayas) made of coarse 

 goat's hair. They cover themselves with cloaks, and wear the 

 hair down to the very eyes. They are great pedestrians, and 

 very enduring as regards fatigue. They are continually at war 

 with the English, who hold garrisons near by in the Queen's 

 service, and Irom whom they defend themselves, not allowing 

 them to enter their territory. They sleep on the ground on 

 freshly cut rushes full of water and frost. The most of the 

 women are very handsome, but ill arranged (tothery) wearing 

 only a shirt and a cloak, which covers them entirely, and a linen 

 cloth which they double closely about the head, tieing it in front. 

 They are very domestic, and very laborious after their fashion. 

 These people style themselves Christians, and mass is said 

 amongst them, their ritual being that of the Roman Church. 

 Nearly all their churches, monasteries, and hermitages have been 

 pulled down by the English garrisons, and the natives who have 

 joined them, and who are just as bad as the English ; so that 

 finally in this kingdom there is no justice or reason, since that 



