The fmel and vapours that are from Bo^s , are 
accounted very unwholfome^and the fogs that riie from 
them are commonly putrid, and ftinking: for the rain, 
that falls on them, will not fink into them i there being 
hardly any fubftance of its foftnefs.more impenetrable by 
water,then turf,and therefore rain-water ftands on them, 
and in their pits; it corrupts there, and is exhaled all by 
the Sun, very little of it running away, which muft oi 
neceffity affed the air. 
(5, They corrupt our water, both as to its colour, and 
taftjfor the colour of the water that ftands in the pits, or 
lyson thefurface of the Bo^, is tinctured by the reddifli 
black colour of the turf; and when a fliower comes, that 
makes thefe pits overflow, the water that runs over tinc- 
tures all it meets , and gives both its colour and ftink, to 
a great many of our rivers; as I obferved thro' all the 
North of Ireland, 
The Natives heretofore had neverthelefs fome advan- 
tage by the woods, and Bo^s ; by them they were pre- 
ferved from the conqueit of the Englijh , and I believfe it 
is a little remembrance of this, makes them ftill build 
Xi^2ixBogs\ it was an advantage then to them to have 
their country unpaflTable, and the fewer ftrangers came 
near them, they lived the eafyer^ for they had no inns, 
every houfe where you came,wasyour inn 5 and you faid 
no more,butput off your broges&fate down by the firc;&: 
Iince the natural /r//?? hate to mend high ways, and will 
frequently Ihut them up, and change them, (being un- 
willing ft rangers fliould come and burthen them ) 
Tho' they are very inconvenient to us , yet they 
are of iome ufc; for moft of Ireland have their firing from 
from them; Turf is accounted a tolerable fweet fire, and 
we having very impolitickly deftroyed our wood, and 
not as yet found ftone coal,lave in few places, we could 
hardly live without fome Bogs : I have leea twrf charc'd, 
