KILLARNEY. 
elevation, in cavities refembling the craters of volcanos. 
The one known by the name of the Devil’s Punch-bowl, 
near the fummit of Mangerton, in the vicinity of Killar- 
ney, is at leaff fifteen hundred feet above the level of the 
fea; and after heavy rains difcharges a large ft ream, which 
rolls down the mountain in a fuccellion of cataracts, dif- 
tinguifhable by their white foam at the diftance of many 
miles. Of thefe numerous lakes, the largell as well as 
the loweft is that of Killarney. It may be confidered, 
indeed, an immenfe refervoir for the waters of the fur¬ 
rounding country, fupplied by the overflowings of other 
lakes, by rills from the adjoining mountains, and by ri¬ 
vers which fall into it after having been augmented dur¬ 
ing their long courfe by countlefs tributary ftreams. The 
only outlet to this extenfive bafin is the clear and rapid 
river Laune, which conveys the furplus water into the 
Atlantic Ocean through the bay of Dingle. Nor is Kil- 
larrrey lefs pre-eminent above all the other lakes of Kerry 
on account of beauty than extent; for, vvhillt the fhores 
of the latter bear no traces of cultivation, and are rarely 
diftinguifhed by any ftriking features from the dreary 
wades which furround them, its enchanting banks, Angled 
out as it were by Nature for the difplay of fome of her 
choiced productions, prefent the charming variety of a 
rich and adorned landl'cape, contraded with the piCturefque 
wildnefs of mountain and forefl fcenery. 
The lake confids of three diltinfl bodies of water. Of 
thefe, the firfl, which is called the upper lake, lies embo- 
foined arr.idfl the mountains ; the others, fituated at the 
exterior bate of the chain, are bounded at one flde alone 
by mountains ; and in the oppofite direction they open 
to a cultivated country, whofe furface is diveriified by 
innumerable hills. The two lad divifions are nearly 
upon the fame level, and lie contiguous to each other, 
being feparated merely by a narrow peninfula, and fome 
fmall iflands, between which there are channels paflable 
for boats ; but the upper lake ftands three miles diflant, 
at the head of a navigable river which flows through a 
romantic valley or defile. Near the termination of its 
courfe, this river divides into two branches, one of which 
flows peaceably into the bay of Glena, on the great or 
lower lake ; the other, forcing its mazy way through a 
rocky channel, iffues with confiderable impetuofity into 
the middle lake, under the woods of Dinis Ifland. 
The Northern or Lower Lake is fix miles in length and 
from three to four in breadth, and the town is fituated 
on its northern fliore. The country on this and the eafl- 
ern boundary is rather of a tame character; but is here 
and there diverfified with gentle fwells, many of which 
afl'ord delightful profpects of the lake, the iflands, and the 
furrounding fcenery. The fouthern fliore is compofed of 
immenfe mountains, rifing abruptly from the water, and 
covered with woods of the fineft timber. From the cen¬ 
tre of the lake the view of this range is aftonifliingly fub- 
lime, prefenting to the eye an extent of foreft fix miles 
in length, and from half a mile to a mile and a half in 
breadth, hanging in a robe of rich luxuriance on the fides 
of two mountains, whofe bare tops rifing above the whole 
form a perfect contrail to the verdure of the lower re¬ 
gion. On the fide of one of thefe mountains is O’Sulli¬ 
van's cafcade, which falls into the lake with a roar that 
ilrikes the timid with awe on approaching it. The view 
of this fheet of water is uncommonly fine, appearing as 
if it were defcending from an arch of wood, which over¬ 
hangs it about feventy feet in height from the point of 
view. Coafting along this fliore affords an almolt endlefs 
entertainment, every change of poiition prefenting a new 
fcene ; and rocks hollowed and worn into a variety of 
forms by the waves, and the trees and flirnbs burfting 
from the pores of the faplefs ftone, forced to afl'ume the 
moll uncouth fhapes to adapt themfelves to their fantaftic 
fituations. The iflands are not fo numerous in this as in 
•the upper lake ; but there is one of uncommon beauty, 
viz. Innisfallen, nearly oppofite to O’Sullivan’s cafcade : 
it contains eighteen Irilh acres. The coall is formed into ’ 
Vol. XI. No. 789. 
71 7 
a variety of bays and promontories, (kirted .and crowned 
with arbutus, holly, and other flirubs and trees ; the in¬ 
terior parts are diverfified with hills and dales, and gentle 
declivities, on which every tree and fiirub appears to ad¬ 
vantage ; the foil is rich even to exuberance ; and trees 
of the largell fize incline acrofs the vales, forming natu¬ 
ral arches, with ivy entwining in the branches, and hang¬ 
ing in felloons of foliage. 
The Middle or Turk Lake is about two Englilh mile* 
in length, and fomewhat lefs than one in breadth ; it is 
bounded on the fouth by Turk Mountain, from which it 
derives its name, and on the oppofite fide by the woods 
and rocks of the peninfula of Mucrufs. The mountain 
difplays little variety either in its water-line or on its fur- 
face. It is marked by no bold precipices, by no glens ; 
and, though it rifes fteeply from the lake, is in moll parts 
eafy of accel's ; but the deep gloom which it fpreads over 
the water at its bafe renders the fcene extremely folemn. 
A large tradl of this mountain has been lately planted by 
colonel Herbert, which, when more advanced, will diver- 
fify the furface and adorn the landfcape. The improve¬ 
ments of the lame gentleman along the eallern (bore ap¬ 
pear to much advantage from the water. The peninfula 
on this fide prel'ents nearly the fame afpefb as on that 
waflied by the lower lake. Its rocks are excavated in a 
fimilar manner by the attrition of the waves ; but they 
have been more deeply undermined, and larger fragments 
of them have been detached, and precipitated into the 
lake. Nearly oppofite to the mines, an immenfe mafs of 
rock and earth has fallen, which claims attention not lefs 
on account of its pidlurefque form than the extraordinary 
mixture it exhibits of various mineral fubltances. De¬ 
vil’s Ifland is not lefs an objeft of curiofity; though now 
confiderably diflant from the fhore, it appears evidently 
to have once formed a part of the peninfula. Such ftrik-. 
ing inftances of the powerful operation of the waves on 
this fide of the peninlula, would lead to afuppofition that 
Turk was expofed to more frequent and more violent 
florins than the lower lake; for the Hone is nearly of the 
fame quality. The fadl, however, is diredlly oppofite to 
this; for the fame winds which difturb the former, alfo 
aflfecl the latter; whereas it frequently happens that the 
lower lake is much agitated, when the waters of Turk re¬ 
main Iheltered, and prefent a fmooth unruffled furface. 
The Upper Lake in pidlurefque fcenery furpafles both 
the others. It is fituated in the midll of a llupendous 
amphitheatre of mountains, and difplays the molt wild 
and romantic fcenery. Its length is nearly the fame as 
that of Turk, its breadth fomewhat inferior. The moun¬ 
tains which bound it on each fide are a continuation of 
thofe of the defile, and are charaflerized by fimilar fea¬ 
tures ; but they are much loftier, and their parts are all 
on a grander fcale; the glens are deeper; the woods more 
exteniive, and of older growth ; the rivers larger ; and 
the falls more lofty and precipitate. The mountains fitu¬ 
ated at the upper extremity of the lake art the molt ele¬ 
vated, as well as the moft varied in their outline; amongfi: 
which Magillycuddy’s reeks rife pre-eminent in grandeur 
above all the refl. They are feen, as already defcribed, 
from the lower lake; but their appearance on this fide is 
fo very different, that they would fcarcely be recognized 
for the fame. Inilead of an affemblage of conical peaks, 
they here difplay a long craggy ridge, which feems to be 
reduced like a wedge to a very narrow breadth at the 
fummit; and, oil afcending, it is found not to be lefs nar¬ 
row than it appears from below. Their height is about 
three thouland feet, and they are feldom unobfcured by 
clouds; a circumftance which contributes to render their 
afpefl, at times, peculiarly fublime. 
Mr. Weld’s Iliuftrations may be read with pleafure, 
even after Dr. Smith’s Hiftory. Not merely the ftationary 
fcenery of the lake, but its accidental varieties and pecu¬ 
liarities, are noticed by Mr. Weld; who expatiates on the 
effects of an humid atmofphere on the fcenery, on the agi¬ 
tations of the water produced by hurricanes and torrents 
8 V of 
