102 



iminication has been long known to Irish, antiquarians, and appreciated 

 for its learning and patriotism ; and I myself and others have often re- 

 gretted that that remarkable discovery had not taken place in our own 

 times, so that an opportunity might have been afforded us of examining 

 the costume, or procuring it for the Museum of the Academy. Owing, 

 however, to the liberality of one of our members, the Earl of Granard, 

 the great-grandson* of the original describer of these remains, I am 

 now enabled to present to the Museum of the Academy the great bulk 

 of the articles which came into the possession of Lady Moira nearly 

 eighty- four years ago. From an examination of some of these speci- 

 mens, it is manifest that a series of " Warp lifts," supposed to be a com- 

 paratively modern invention, was in use in Ireland when these articles 

 were manufactured. 



In the memoir in the " Archaeologia" it is said that the human 

 figure referred to was found buried in hard gravel, beneath 4-J feet of 

 bog, " and that upon and about the bones there were many garments." 

 It was also stated that the circumstances under which the body was 

 found showed evidences of burial ; and also that the bog had been some 

 years previously nearly eleven feet deep in that spot. I have, however, 

 been by long experience so accustomed to receive with great caution all 

 accounts of such matters afforded by the peasantry, even where a shorter 

 interval has existed between the discovery and the recital than that re- 

 corded by Lady Moira, that I think we must receive with caution details 

 of that nature. 



The hair of the individual was long, silky, and of a deep chestnut 

 colour ; but how far this brownish- auburn tint is the original shade of 

 the hair, or the result of the bog colouring, is questionable. 

 Its present hue would be much coveted in our own day. 

 The plait was formed of three strands, interwoven after 

 the manner depicted in the adjoining woodcut, and 

 closely resembles the mode of wearing the hair in vogue 

 among children and young girls a few years ago. The 

 entire plait is now fourteen inches long. 



All the articles of costume described by Lady Moira 

 were woollen — thus indicating that at the period to which 

 they refer there was no linen or other vegetable fabric 

 employed in that part of the country. What their origi- 

 nal colours may have been it is now difficult to determine ; 

 but at present they present several varieties of brown, from a dark 

 orange, through the various shades of russet and sienna, to a colour 

 almost black. More, however, may be gleaned from the texture, and 

 manufacture, and pattern of the fabrics, than from the colour. All th 

 seams and hems are made good with woollen thread of the same colo" 



* Lady Elizabeth Hastings, Baroness Hastings and Hungerford, &c, in her o 

 right, and Countess of Moira, was mother to Lady Selina Rawdon Hastings, Countess of 

 Granard, from whom the present Earl inherited those portions of costume and hair referred 

 to in the text. 



