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handled spears' of the Firbolgs^ and asks if all their arms are 

 like them. Then, to give Breas an opportunity of examining 

 them, Sreng ' took the tyings off his two thick-handled 

 craisechs' (or heavy spears), and asks Breas what he thinks of 

 them, who replies in surprise and admiration of the ' great, 

 pointless, heavy, thick, sharp-edged arms,' and refers to the 

 sharpness of their touch, their power when cast at an enemy, 

 the wounds that would come of rubbing to their edge, and the 

 deadliness of their thrust ; thus describing both the form and 

 modes of use of this peculiar kind of spear. Sreng then 

 explains that the name of the weapon is craisech, that they are 

 ' gorers of flesh,' and ' crushers of bones,' and ' breakers of 

 shields,' and that their thrust or stroke is death, or perpetual 

 mutilation. On separating they exchange weapons, we are 

 told, that the hosts on each side might thus form an opinion of 

 the other by an examination of a specimen of the arms. Breas 

 gives Sreng his two sleghs, or spears, and sends word by him 

 that the Tuatha De Danann will insist on half of the island ; 

 that they would take so much in peace, but if so much were 

 not conceded by the Firbolgs they must try the issue of a 

 battle between them. Sreng then returns to the Firbolg camp, 

 and it is in his account of the champion of the Tuatha De 

 Danann that we have a description of their weapons. ' Their 

 shields,' he says, ' are great and firm ; their spears are sharp, 

 thin, and hard ; their swords are hard and deep edged.' And 

 Sreng recommended his people accordingly to agree to the 

 proposed terms, and to divide the country equally with the 

 strangers. This, however, they would not consent to do, for 

 they said if they gave the Tuatha De Danann half they would 

 soon take the whole. On the other hand, the Tuatha De 

 Danann were so much impressed with the report of Breas, and 

 with the appearance of the terrible craisechs, that they resolved 

 to secure themselves by taking up a better military position 

 before the impending battle, and they retired accordingly farther 

 west into Connacht." — ['' Manners and Customs of the Ancient 

 Irish? by E. O'Curry ; vol. ii , p. 235.] After this follows an 

 account of some of the events of the battle, in which the uses 



