The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-04-01
Observations on ireland.
BY REV. X. LATHAM.

1
Such it has been regarded for ccnturic.
past, and such, no doubt, it will be con
sidcrcd for centuries to come. lndivid
uais from all sections Of the globe visi
strange feeling, which is not inaptly
| expressed by the word bcwilicrment.
IT, and meme go away without experiencing
The Giants Causcway is on the cx
trcmc northern coast Of Ireland, in the
county Antrim, about eight miles from
the town of Colcrainc, in county Lon.
dondcry. There Is small portion in
county Donegal, which is farther north
than the Giants Causeway is, according
to its extent, the most remarkable in the
world. Everything presents a strange
aspect. The scenery suggests the rcck-
less thought that here lies, in wild con-
fusion, tho left over material Of creation.
Even the waters Of the ocean look
strange. 1t is scarcely conceivable, but
it is fact, they look grim with age and
defiantly mad. Wave pursucs wave, as
If each which follows had been unpar-
donably insultcd by the one going before
it, and all tierccly dash against the crag-
gy rocks which wall them in, as if these
craygy rocks had fraudulcntly deprived
them of their rights. On the other hand,
the grey crags, which line the shore,
look down in silent but proud contempt
from their lofty height upon the angry
waves which dash in maddcncd fury
against their sides.
From Port Rush to the Giants Cause
way, aud for considerable distance be-
yond, the scenery is awfully sublime.
The traveller is conveyed from Port
Rush to Bush Mills on an electric tram
way; TINT is, on a railroad the propcll-
ing power Of which is electricity. The
coaches in which the passengers ride
are not unlike other railroad coaches.
but to see these coaches moving along
the track, at q moderate rate of speed
with no motive power visible, is calcula-
ted to bcgct feelings Of astonisEment.
There is no smoking engine to be seen,
no blowing of whistles to be heard. In
fact, there is nothing to be seen but the
coaches themselves. The track Of this
electric tramway is within sight Of the
sea, all the way from Port Rush to Bush
Mills. Often it is in close proximity to
4 fearful prccipice. A run off would be
T.nlungc into the raging sea below. The
distancefrom Port Rush to Bush Mills
is, suppose Ire miles, and from Bush.
Mills to the Giants CaYsveway about
half that distance.
From Bush Mills the Causcway is
reached by private conveyance by two
routes. The near and more direct leads
west Of the Causeway, while the other
leads to point cast. This western
coast, which is called Ton Duff, is be-
yond question the most awe-inspiring
spot l ever saw. The sea is strongly
walled in by precipicc which attains,
in some places. the height Of near
three hundred feet. Occasionally this
prccipicc is slightly inclined, hut gcner-
ally it is perpendicular. winds abruptly,
putting out into the sea, and
at other times rcceding into the land.
Beneath, the sea RACES with wild fury.
AT short intervals large columns Of
rock rise from the sea to the top of the
preciyicc. These all have been given
names, but do not remember any Of
them.
On approaching the Causeway from
the east the precipicc makes quick turn
to the right. At this point it ceases to
be perpendicular and becomes about as
much inclined as very steep roof of a
house. This inclination is literally cov-
cred with stones Of all sizes and various
shapes. Some are firmly fixed in the
ground, while others are loose. Down
this rocky inclination there is winding
shecp-path. This sheep-track is barely
wide enough for one individual to de-
scend at time. For the greater part of
the distance-about two hundred and
fifty fect-it is on the very edge of the
precipice. varying in depth according to
the distance from the point at which the
descent was begun. 1t is with great
difficulty that an individual can stand,
and fall would, in any case, be attend
OIL with the most serious consequences.
When the descent is completed the
individual finds himself or herself. rs
the case may be, standing on trisngu-
lar nook literally covered with loose
stones. Two sides of this triangular
nook are bounded by prccipitous crags
and the remaining side by pent-up sea.
1t is. perhaps, impossible for any one
to attain such perfection in word paint
ing MS to be able to present full-sized
likeness Of the Giants Causeway. II
may say that tho fact those who have
not seen 1t have generally very vauge
notions of it is proof of this declaration.