The Irish standard., 1899-10-14
The Famine Of Last Year and
Its Consequences.
FAITH IN The SUPERNATURAL
Belief in Death Warnings or
Omens Quite General.

In the latest number of the Proceed
ings of the R. I. A., there is an article
by DR.. Browne, giving the results OF
an extremely complete anthropometic
investigation of the population of Ga
rumna Island and Lettermullen, on the
west coast OF Galway. This district is
described as "a secluded and primitive
portion of the old territory OF lar Con-
naught" The country, which was Sc
verely visited by the famine OF last year,
is scene OF appalling desolation." 1t
is said that "one could hardly believe
the place inhabited, it appears so utterly
uninfabitable," yet, as Father Finlay
pointed out in valuable paper on the
economies Of the region, the reckless
increase OF population has been going
on there for many years. The census OF
1851 showed 1,725 inhabitants in Ga
rumna, with 224 houses, and an average
OF 400 acres per head. 1891 shows a
population OF 2,5o6, with 431 houses,
and 2.SI acres per head. The people"
says Dr. Browne, marry early, the age
in the case OF men being from 1S to 90
years, and for girls from 16 upwards" /"
The inhabitants live by fishing and kelp
burning, growing potatoes for their
food, with little oats, barley, or rye
A Garumna farm" is one of the most
extraordinary phenomena OF agricul-
ture. OF the physique OF the population
living under these conditions we now
have minute and elaborate account
together with some very interesting OBJ
servations on their beliefs, CUSTOMS. and
general psychology. The inhabitants,
we learn, are OF average stature, or
slightly above it." THE general build
is stout and square, with great depth OF
chest, and their muscular strength
seems to be far above the average"
The head is usually we'll shaped and
the features commonly good-the
heavy hanging lower lip, so common
in the West OF Ireland, is not so notice
able here. The skin is generally fair
or ruddy, and the eyes blue or blue
gray; the ears small and well-shaped.
"On the WHOLE it is remarked, "the
population is wonderfully healthy one,
in spite OF the adverse conditions OF the
dwellings, food, and mode OF life" But
"phtlisis is very common, as well as
other tubercular complaints" This is
attributed by DR.. Browne to the wretch
ed nature of the dwellings, etc. At
night five to eight or nine persons are
huddled together in one of these small
rooms, with every door or window
closed, the fire on, and cattle, pig or
fowls in the dwelling, which naturally
becomes hotbed OF disease. Skin
affections are also common, and various
forms of rheumatism. The general
character OF the folk is described in the
following pages:
The people in these islands are very
shrewd and intelligent, and this applies
especially to the inhabitants of Letter.
mullen. Among themselves they are
very social but clannisl,, the people OF
the respective islands going together as
rule. They are fond of gossip and
chaff, are quick at taking joke. and
have keen sense OF humor. They are
passionately fond of music and dancing.
In their dealings with one another they
are very honest, and will pay up their
debts whenever they can. Theft is OF
very rare occurrence. In time OF trou-
bic they are very kind and charitable
to one another, and the totally destitute
will always be able to obtain help from
even the poorest OF their neighbors. In
spite OF the illicit disstillation which, for
so long, prevailed in this district, the
people arc as rule sober and not given
to alcoholic excess.
They are extremely moral in their
sexual relations; only one case of lille
gitimacy has occurred among them in
the past eight years, and only two within
twenty years. In other ways they are
very excitable. Their veracity is their
weak point All informants agreed in
stating that their word was rather un-
certain. When law cases occur, which
is seldom, cases of cross-swearing OF
great ingenuity are common.
Connenara is reputedy rich in folk
lore, and it may be presumed that a
secluded part OF it, like this group of
islands, still retains much that may have
died out elsewhere, but owing to the
natural reticence OF the people ON this