The National tribune., 1893-01-12

at the western extremity of the lake. This
lake is a grand sight for those who admire
Nature in her wilder moods. 1t is in the midst
of an amphitheater of majestic mountains, and
occupies an area Of about $50 acres.
The steep, rugged and desolate mountains
approach the edge closely upon all sides except
the eastern and the dark shadows Of the over
hanging cliffs are reflected in the CLASSY sur
face of the deep waters. The lake itself is
dark and Iustrous as polished black marble.
The gloomy grandeur of the beetling cliffs is
only relieved by the streams that flash down
their burrows like trembling silver ribbons
that is, they POLITICALLY supposed to come
down like silver ribbons.
We reached the lake right on the heels of a
four horse shower that left all nature smiling,
and these mountain rivuets were coming down
like amateur Niagaras, with roar that was
awful and creating a chaos of sound and water
that was terrific in its majestic grandeur.
Near the middle of the lake, and connected
with the shore by small causeway, is little
island on which, in the infancy of Christianity
in Ireland, Saint Fin Barre built himself her.
mitage, of which there still remains the ruins
OF the church, the convent and court or
cloister, around which are eight little circular
cells. The place must have been very small,
as the church and convent walls were only
about four feet high and with the roof on must
have made everybody hnmpbaclSed that lived
and the place is even now used by some de-
voices as retreat, but l notice they take pre-
cious good care to make themselves more COM
Portable than ever the good Saint Fin Barre
could have been if he was man of average
hight.
To visit Cougaune- Barra we had made a
considerable detOur. and we next drove back
to the main road and in due time reached the
celebrated Pass of K;maneigh. the path Of the
bounding deer" This is deep hollow sepa-
rating two vast hills which rise almost perpen-
diculariy and have a sinister look of desiring
to tumble over on you.
If these hills were rough to look at and mean
to climb, the gorgeous array of flowers decking
their precipitous sides made up for all other
short comngs of nature in the way of comfort
able scenery. The pass is fully mile long
and only wide enough for 10 or 12-foot road
way, and narrow stream alongside it. About
two thirds of the way through the pass our
driver stopped his horse, and said in the tones
of man crying an auction of pigs:
:" 1t was just here your honor, that in the
great rising of '98 that small party OF English
soldiers were marching through the Pass of
Kemaneigh, when the rebels annihilated the
whole lot of them by rolling great rocks and
stones down upon them from the cliffs above.
Lord rest their souls; get up with you, Doiey."
This was the first time the man had opened
his mouth since we left Inchageela, and he has
never opened 1t since that know or, Tor at
Glengarif a new driver took charge of us.
Once out Of the Pass, one of the branches of
the Owyanne River kept us company to the
head of Bantry Bay. On the way we stopped
to visit the Castle of Carriganass, the rock of
the Waterfall, one of the ancient strOngh0lds
of the O'Sulivans 1t is still in good repair,
all the woodwork being of massive teak. On
first entering the main ball, which is 20 feet
high, you think you have got into prison
cell, until the once. secret doors opened. and
you find yourself in rather imposing apart
ment, opening into the various departments of
the castle, aud you find that these little seven
by-nine Kings of old contrved to surround
themselves with no little luxury and state, if
they didn't have too much taste or comfort,
which is quite evident.
From here the winding road took us over the
hills TO Ardnagashel, from which for three
miles of the way we had fine view of the
whole of Bantry Bay, the Islands Of WILDLY
| and Bcre Dunboy Castle, ROhencorrig light
house, and just as your eyes begin to ache
with trying to look at II points of interest at
once, your car lodges swiftly down under the
Caha range of hills, aud Burns knocks the
breath out of you with enthusiasm as he
| shouts:
There it is that's Glengariff Oh, isn't
| it just a little heaven. Porter, get me der
| rick and baggage truck. and I'll stop with
| you till morning." But l had to lift myself
| out Of the car and carry myself into the Royal
all alone.
| The next morning, after hasty view oil
| Glengarif and Bantry Bay, we took the Ban
don Railway back to Cork. where Mr.. Burns
LETT me for his home at Youghal. while went
down to Queenstown and started for Scotland
1.-THE end