35 



allowed to reap what was sown was too small, to encourage men 

 to labour. The natives depended on their cattle, which they 

 drove about with them ; hastily built huts sheltered them, and 

 indoor life was practically unknown during the day time. 



Under such circumstances, man must sink into the lowest 

 state of civilization ; industries and arts of all sorts were 

 impossible ; accordingly this period of Irish history has left no 

 memorial ; population decreased, and wild beasts multiplied so 

 that the skins of foxes were sent over from our island to the Low 

 Countries. Even religion itself seemed to have lost all power 

 to influence the community, as might be expected when the 

 sole occupation of the people was war. 



