The Irish standard., 1886-04-24

sieged city in a state OF semi-famlne.
the people relieved by fortnightly doles
Of barely half the amount of meal re-
quired, those who yet have a few
treasured potatoes eating them like
measured rations, sensible that they
are consuming their only hope OF es-
cape from future famine--all without
credit and without means Of obtaining
supplies. During those four days We
were witnesses of scenes OF priyatioa
and suffering borne with patience and
resignation which it was impossible 10
see unmoved. and as an example Of
the condition of the island [ will select
from my notes the story Of Que village.
March l5-Visited Dooega East and
West, two small villages Oh the sea-
shore, containing 10 houses. more like
dirty cattle sheds, and 900 OF 100 per-
sons. With the exception of nine
families, two ct whom had outdoor re-
Lief, all were receiving fortnightly al
lowarcas Of meal from the relief COM
mittee. Rents and holdings very sgaali;
three only at OF above 60 Per annnm,
the majority varying from COS TO Sos,
and some as low as IS or los. Visited
twenty or more houses, Each, i'll Vary
ing degrees, had the same story, "I'he
potatoes were killed by the August
Storm and either eve have none
left ~ or eve are eating the little store
of seed, yer honor;" while few told US
that they still had one-fourth OF olls-
third OF the ordinary quantity of pota-
toes for sowing, None begged for
money; all asked for work so as TO OBJ
tain meal for their families. and im~
p]ored fol seed with which to plant
their holdings; and as the whole male
population assembled around us like q
small parliament, we had ample oppor~
tunity Of hearing the yox populi.
"What we want, yer honor, is piers
and help with the fishing; but Che
piers, yer honor. are the first; for il ye
had them we could 60 out with our own
small beats every day, and neeu not go
to England--and now for days we are
idle and dare not venture out with the
rough seas.'' 'i1WLere is the place for
the pier which you think would help
you?'' we ask, and instantly the mov-
able parliament. needless Of the saow
and wind bowling around, LED ns to the.
two or three places which in the views
OF the wisest were deemed the hest.
Their practical explanations were clear
and lucid, and the reasons pro and con,
stated lit is hardly needful to say) with
force and energy.
On our return we took shelter in a
small shop, and from the owner, WHO
Hospitality boiled the kettlesanst pro-
vided us with tea, learnt the follow
ing: Asked, "What meal are you sell
ing weekly?'' None now to the people
except that on orders FROM the commit
tee (relief.) 'How much last year at
this t1neY' "Wa and the other shops
sold four to six tons Of meal q week.,
and all the people get now is about
one and a half tons per week from the
committee" "How much tea did yon
sell last year per week?" about four
or five pounds, and now all l sell is a
quarter of pound each to the yeliev-
ing officer and myself; and the lutte
chest l ordered is gong back to the
merchant ;'How much tobacco was
sold weekly last year?'' ''I'ive Oh SIX
pounds, and now have only an empty
canister: no one can buy We cannot
give more credit, the people owe me
from ga oj, Sc to e10 and some Ell each.
and owe my merchant at Westport,
and cannot pay him. "Were the rents
paid?" we asked. Eyes up to March,
1885; but now it is impossible" The
people spoke Of the stoppage of credit
as one great cause of the distress.
Last year We could get a bag Of meal
On credit, for they knew we would pay
when we came back frora England or
had the little beast Or cow to sell. This
year the English wages came to Moth
ing, the most we brought home with
us was e2, s33, or 24, and many earned
nothing and had to send for or borrow
money to bring us back, and some are
staying in England because they had
no earnings to bring them home. y
Are you as badly Off as i'll ls79-80?;'
"We are worse, yer honor, because we
had the English earnings then, and
could get q price for the cattle. Now,
If we drove the cattle to four fairs we
cannot get price. and the shopman
will not give bag of meal uAs.> for q
cowl sold my milk COW for l5s., and
now have none for the family" This
impossibility of getting food for the
cattle heard of everywhere.
Mr.. Tuke's description Of the dis
tress III the other localities visited IS
equally depressing. and seems fully to
justify bis statement that 1.-The poverty
in these districts is Of q very serious na-
ture. and needing the most careful and
immediate consideration, first as re-
CARDS the supply Of seed potatoes,
which can alone avert partial famine
t6,-, coonr1lxs