-
Articles/Ads
Article ACCOUNT OF A TOUR TO KILLARNEY, &c. ← Page 4 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Account Of A Tour To Killarney, &C.
strawberry tree , abounds here ; it is generally from eig ht to twelve feet high , and I apprehend for the most part about one foot in diameter ; it generally blossolns the latter end of September , and in December the fruit is ripe , of a bri g ht scarlet colour , rather larger than the common strawberry . Landing at the foot of Tomishwe visited O'Sullivan ' s Cascade
, , in a situation encircled 'with trees ; its hideous roar surprises , where a sylvan gloom would else delig ht , and impress the mind with an idea of a mixed kind in the contemplation of noisy retirement . Our visit was next directed to the Island of Innisfallen , a deli g htful place , containing about twenty acres of land , almost covered with ivy , holly , and arbutus trees ' . Among several other similar curiositieswe were
, shown a French holly , the stem of which measures near nine feet in circumference , which I think you will allow is an extraordinary size . Encircled with ivy stands an old abbey in ruins , which is now frequently converted into a house of refreshment , it being the usual place of dinner for visitors of the Lower Lake , who begin their excursions in the morning .
Near Innisfallen Island is a large rock , called O'Donnahue ' s Prison , from a report that O'Donnahtie , before the abolition of the Feodal System , being absolute Governor in these , parts , banished-to this rock such of his vassals as had the misfortune to incur his displeasure . Here , the report adds , they were left to starve , unless they could save their lives by the hard and dangerous alternative of
swimming ashore . Several other stories , for the most part ridiculous and improbable , were told us of this man , but with which I do not mean to tire your patience ; beside , whilst I am anxious to save my friend from weariness , I am conscious I ought not to forget , that the fabric of that history , whose only basis is oral tradition , may be justly suspected of uncertainty and weakness . There are about thirty other islands in this Lakemostly
abound-, ing in arbutus trees , and in several other respects very much . like those before mentioned ; we were satisfied in seeing a few of them , therefore landed at Ross Mines early in the evening . A few years since , a considerable quantity of copper-ore was raised at this place , but the work now remains in a state of total neglect . A poor man who lives near this place informed us , that its discontinuance was owin
g to the great difficulty of obtaining proper fuel for smelting ; but at Killarney we were told , that the ignorance and untractable manners of the workmen had been the greatest impediment ; however , we had not much ri g ht to be offended with the poor fellow for giving us a wrong account , since he- probably thought that misrepresentation might serve our turn , as well as confession of his own inability .
After returning to our inn , and partaking of a comfortable meal , which the landlord had provided against our return , his attendance was requested to our council of procedure , and where he very readily lent his assistance . Our first business was to write a note' to Lord Kenmare , in which iv . e informed him of our arrival at Killarney , and requested he would
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Account Of A Tour To Killarney, &C.
strawberry tree , abounds here ; it is generally from eig ht to twelve feet high , and I apprehend for the most part about one foot in diameter ; it generally blossolns the latter end of September , and in December the fruit is ripe , of a bri g ht scarlet colour , rather larger than the common strawberry . Landing at the foot of Tomishwe visited O'Sullivan ' s Cascade
, , in a situation encircled 'with trees ; its hideous roar surprises , where a sylvan gloom would else delig ht , and impress the mind with an idea of a mixed kind in the contemplation of noisy retirement . Our visit was next directed to the Island of Innisfallen , a deli g htful place , containing about twenty acres of land , almost covered with ivy , holly , and arbutus trees ' . Among several other similar curiositieswe were
, shown a French holly , the stem of which measures near nine feet in circumference , which I think you will allow is an extraordinary size . Encircled with ivy stands an old abbey in ruins , which is now frequently converted into a house of refreshment , it being the usual place of dinner for visitors of the Lower Lake , who begin their excursions in the morning .
Near Innisfallen Island is a large rock , called O'Donnahue ' s Prison , from a report that O'Donnahtie , before the abolition of the Feodal System , being absolute Governor in these , parts , banished-to this rock such of his vassals as had the misfortune to incur his displeasure . Here , the report adds , they were left to starve , unless they could save their lives by the hard and dangerous alternative of
swimming ashore . Several other stories , for the most part ridiculous and improbable , were told us of this man , but with which I do not mean to tire your patience ; beside , whilst I am anxious to save my friend from weariness , I am conscious I ought not to forget , that the fabric of that history , whose only basis is oral tradition , may be justly suspected of uncertainty and weakness . There are about thirty other islands in this Lakemostly
abound-, ing in arbutus trees , and in several other respects very much . like those before mentioned ; we were satisfied in seeing a few of them , therefore landed at Ross Mines early in the evening . A few years since , a considerable quantity of copper-ore was raised at this place , but the work now remains in a state of total neglect . A poor man who lives near this place informed us , that its discontinuance was owin
g to the great difficulty of obtaining proper fuel for smelting ; but at Killarney we were told , that the ignorance and untractable manners of the workmen had been the greatest impediment ; however , we had not much ri g ht to be offended with the poor fellow for giving us a wrong account , since he- probably thought that misrepresentation might serve our turn , as well as confession of his own inability .
After returning to our inn , and partaking of a comfortable meal , which the landlord had provided against our return , his attendance was requested to our council of procedure , and where he very readily lent his assistance . Our first business was to write a note' to Lord Kenmare , in which iv . e informed him of our arrival at Killarney , and requested he would