The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1856-11-20
Rough Notes Of Trip TO Europe. frsa,
ID. A. u.
NUMBER XVI


Foreign espondencs Of the Pioneer and pemoers,
Thei antiquities Of Ireland are among the
most interesting iu the world. They reach fat
back into prehistoric ages, and form al
important branch Of chronological research, re-
la,ing to the migrations and conflicts Of the an
cient races Of mankind The most curious and
Interesting Of these antiquities are the Round
Towers, Of which there are more than hun
dred in Ireland, in various stages of ruin. and
fifteen so well preserved, that they look as i
lately built. Yet they were probably erected
before the christian era certainly long before
historic times for in the oldes, accounts ol
them, they were looked upon as very ancient
whose builders were then unknown.
According TO traditions which survive among
the Irish peasantry to the present day, they
were built by the Fire WorshippiDg PhTni-
clans, us temples for the preservation of the
sacred flame II is u well established tact that
centuries before our era the Phpnicians had
colonized Ireland, and many os their supersti-
tions still lnger amorg the Irish people. |
will not, however, at this time, venture upon an
enquiry into the origin Of these wonderful
Round Towers. The learned men of ireland
have various theories TO account for them =
That they werc built by the Fire Worshippers;
by the Danes for Watch Towers by people
from India for the worship Of the Padma-ae-
"; by the early christians for bell towers,
for cells, for dungeons, and for retreat from en-
einics. After having read the principal au-
thors Of these diverse theories, my mind is SGT.
tled in the conviction that We must look u the
PhUnicians, or the scaDty remains VIC have Of
that people, and TO India for solution Of the
Round Tower problem. Like our mound ques
ton, it s surrounded by difficulties which may
be removed by investigation, and may not. ia
either event, such research leads to the true
foundations Of history, and is therefore both in
tercsting and useful
As it is not my purpose to burden the col
umns of the PIONEER AND DEMOCRAT with anti.
quarian facts and arguments, will only a,ll
that il seems 10 be an established fact that the
Irish language was dialect Of the PhTnlcan;
and that Round Towers, similar to the Irish,
have leen found in no other country but India,
except two or three in Scotland, which are
doubtless Of the same origin us those Of Ireland
Hence the rational hypothesis that they ante
date the Ph9necian coluiaation. thus investing
these mysterious buildings with mn interest not
inferior TO that commonly attached to the in
conparably grand and famous pyramids Of
Egypt.
With these views We started out early in the
morning to visit Round Tower on the Island
Of Dcvenish, two aud n half mikes from Ennis
killen. 1t was market day, and the country
people were throngng into town. They were
plainly and comfortably clad, but altogether
foreign in appearance. They had none Of the
vehicles common in the American market
streets. Their butter, eggs, poultry and veg, Ia
bIes, were packed in large panniers. placcd some
thing after the fashion Of pair oi saddle bags
ou little bit Of a jackass, literally overwhelm
lNh WIN Wv h'Nbibb W HffH but 'Hr
and feet visible, suggestive Of the old saying,
las strong as a iackass.' We saw one poor
beast that was not strong enough 10 bear up
the load standing, 80 when his master stoppod
for u moment, down squst,cd the donkey. Then
two strong men would seize hold Of each pan.
nier. while another wonld bclabor the poor
beast over the head, Till by force Of beating
and lifting they would oct hin, on bis .eg-
again. 1t was altogether eomcal. The ass,
among the peasautry OF Ireland, as in other
countries, is II cheap substitute for the borse,
~ the goat for milk, secn all over the portion
Of Ireland We have visited. is for the COW, and
both are evidence Of the poverty Of the people.
DEsxis McL,UGnIIs Is the name Of The pfin-
cJal bsatmaD on I,pugh Erne--an honest and
intelligent man. who, for the trifle Of "twoaDd-
sixpence," would make the trip to Devcnish
and back and stay there a. loDg a. We pleased.
The island of Dcycnish contains about one
hundred and iiily acres. A. We approached,
liz seemed 10 he circular in form, and of mound
shapc The round tower Is on the eastern side,
near the foot of declvi,y Its form nsern-
bIcs tha, of thu oh round sbo, tower in Phila.
delphia, with the dSernce that the top or root
Of this ia oi a cone shape The Whole tower
is of bewn. granite rick. sbout eighty fst high,
AMI forty FIVE IN circumference at tlc ba-e. The
lopcnings are a. follows facing The csl-t, abou,
nine i,st from tn grcund Is aa srcboi dor.
way; ten htt. perhaps, above this, window
opening, with pointed arch AMI near the top
directly fscing the cast, window opening of
mcicrn iorm. There is a corresponding oI.'n
ing mar the top. to eaeh of ihe Other points Of
the COMPASS, and lower down. on ti.e Dor,ieru
aI.l .oatherB slds, smaller opening Tbsre
ia scslp,nroi oonioe aronnd ,be top, in which
, dirrtly over each window. Is the long eareI,
r broA,i bcaded, lowerOwDel, sharp ehiuncI and
teardsd human head. 70 frequently gearing
among oriental antiquities.
q Asa spcimen of architecture It is a pers,et
: anil artistic structure of ti,e kind. an nm.
q lsSs ovcr,Mosn by human ascocy, looks a.
: IL might stand. thar linking ihe Prc-bt and
4 the future Nth remote aatiqaiiy, S0r t'onsaDis
of years 10 eOns The lightning, charged
|. With il. beavisr; ,huSicrbole, i ue ouy eb-
menial destroyer To- which il "a eHI'"ri. anil