many times been carried against them by boatmen of reputed experience. Similar accidents happen when the lake is unusually low. In the summer of the year 1803, the water, from a long continuance of dry weather, sunk so much, that a great many rocks were laid bare which had never been seen before that period. A large sail boat belonging to a gentleman residing near the lake, navigated by men who were supposed to be thoroughly acquainted with every dangerous point, was very nearly lost during this season, by getting entangled in a reef of rocks near the Brown island, over which there usually was found a sufficient depth of water; and it was not extricated without very great difficulty and danger. If, however, we contrast the infrequency of untoward accidents with the great concourse of people who venture on the lake, at all seasons of the year; if we reflect on all the incentives to enterprise that the situation affords, and that giddiness is the usual concomitant of festivity; we may conclude that the navigation is almost exempt from danger.

On approaching the lake in the vicinity of Ross-castle some disappointment is at first generally experienced from the flatness and marshy quality of the shore. The latter part of the road is a causeway, which crosses the morass or bog near the castle, and is reduced to a narrow isthmus by inlets of the lake on each side. A small canal cut through this isthmus, is the only separation between the main land and the island of Ross; so that during summer, when the separation can only be distinguished at the distance of a few yards, it scarcely appears to deserve the appellation of an island; but in winter the whole isthmus is overflowed.

The canal affords a ready passage from Ross-bay to Mucruss; and it also facilitates that to the upper lake when the wind blows fresh into the bay, at which time the boats could with difficulty

be rowed round the northern point of the island. A small bridge is built across the canal, at the foot of which there is a large gate with a guard-house for the protection of the approach to the castle when the castle is garrisoned, this gate is regularly closed at night, and sentinels placed over it.

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Ross-castle is built on a rock close to the water. The only remains of the old works are a large quadrangular tower, which is still perfect; with two small circular flankers in a ruined state. Adjoining the former a barrack has been erected for two hundred soldiers, which, together with apartments for officers of the castle, stores, stables, &c. give the place an aspect of importance. The castle forms a conspicuous feature in the landscape from almost every part of the lower lake; but the regularity of the modern additions is destructive of the picturesque effect of the ancient fabric. The view of it is taken from Reen-point, near the mouth of the bay of Ross. The guard-house is distinguishable at a short distance to the left of the castle, on the low plashy ground; and beyond it is seen a part of the lake, with the distant shore and low hills of Mucruss. The pointed mountain is Turk, at the foot of which lies the middle or Turk lake; the larger one, to the left, is Mangerton. Between these two mountains there is an extensive valley, through which a romantic road is carried from the town of Killarney to the head of Kenmare river. On a clear sunny day, a very delightful instance of gradation of light is generally observable on the side of Mangerton from this point. The time for beholding it is late in the afternoon, when the sun has passed behind the mountains of the great chain. Turk, intercepting the rays of the sun, spreads a solemn gloom over the landscape at its base; whilst the light darting through the opening between it and Mangerton, richly illuminates the bold cliffs which overhang the valley, and, gra

dually diminishing along the swell of the mountains, casts a fainter and still fainter gleam on the projecting rocks as they recede from the source of illumination.

Ross-castle is said to have been built by a powerful sept or tribe of the O'Donoghoes. It was a place of strength in the time of Cromwell, and resisted for some time the attacks of the parliamentary army under the command of General Ludlow, who gives the following account of its capture:

"In the mean time, I was not wanting in my endeavour to reduce the enemy in Ireland; and to that end marched with about four thousand foot, and two thousand horse, towards Ross in Kerry, where the Lord Muskerry made his principal rendezvous; and which was the only place of strength the Irish had left, except the woods, bogs, and mountains; being a kind of island encompassed on every part by water, except on one side, upon which there is a bog, not passable but by a causeway which the enemy had fortified. In this expedition I was accompanied by the Lord Broghill, and Sir Hardress Waller, majorgeneral of the foot. Being arrived at this place, I was informed that the enemy received continual supplies from those parts that lay on the other side, and were covered with woods and mountains: whereupon I sent a party of two thousand foot, to clear these woods and to find out some convenient place for the erecting a fort, if there should be occasion. These forces met with some opposition; but at last they routed the enemy, killing some, and taking others prisoners; the rest saved themselves by their good footmanship. Whilst this was doing, I employed that part of the army which was with me, in fortifying a neck of land, where I designed to leave a party to keep in the Irish on this side, that I might be at liberty with the greatest part of the horse and foot to look after the enemy abroad, and to receive