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the WHITE ROCKS. In a distance of 2 miles there are 27 caverns or gullies worn out by the action of the waves on the limestone rock. The most interesting is called the "Priest's Hole." DUNLUCE CASTLE (3 miles), one of the finest ruins to be seen anywhere. "It stands about 100 ft. above the sea on a perpendicular and insulated rock, the entire surface of which is so completely occupied by the edifice that the external walls are in continuation with the perpendicular sides of the rock." The rock is united to the mainland by a wall only 18 inches in width. The origin of this castle is unknown; it is attributed to De Courcey, Earl of Ulster. BUSHMILLS (2 miles) (Hotel: Imperial), so called from the river Bush, on which it is situated. THE GIANT'S CAUSEWAY (2 miles) (Antrim Arms). At the hotel may be had a tariff of prices for guides, boats, &c. The landlord at the Antrim Arms at Port Rush will recommend a good guide, and it would be well to follow his advice. There is no lack of intelligent guides. The best course to pursue in seeing the wonders of this remarkable region is, if the day be not stormy, to visit the caves and then to land upon and see the Causeway. The first of these caves is PORTCOON, into which the boat may be rowed for a considerable distance. Its length is 350 ft., its height, 45 ft. It may be entered also by land, but the effect is not so good. Dunkerry cave can only be entered by water. Its entrance resembles a Gothic arch. It is 660 ft. long, and its height is 60 ft. above high-water mark. After leaving the caves the visitor is rowed directly to and landed upon the Causeway.

It is a vast collection of basaltic pillars. The grand causeway consists of a most regular

arrangement of about 40,000 columns of a black kind of rock, very hard; almost all of them of a pentagonal figure, but so closely and compactly situated at their sides, though perfectly distinct from top to bottom, that scarcely anything can be introduced between them. The columns are of unequal height and breadth, some of the highest being about 20 ft.; they do not exceed this heightat least, none in the principal arrangement. How deep they are fixed in the earth has never been discovered. This grand arrangement extends nearly 200 yards, visible at low water; how far beyond is uncertain; from its declining appearance, however, at low water, it is probable it does not extend under water to anything like the distance seen above. The breadth of the principal causeway, which runs on in one continued range of columns, is from 20 to 30 ft.; at one or two places it may be 40 ft. for a few yards. In this account are excluded the broken and scattered pieces, as they do not appear ever to have been contiguous to the principal arrangement, though they have been frequently taken into the width. The figure of the columns is almost unexceptionably pentagonal; some few there are of three, four, and six sides, but the generality are fivesided. What is peculiarly curious to the non-scientific observer, is that there are not two columns in ten thousand to be found that have their sides equal among themselves, or whose figures are alike. They are not of one solid stone in an upright position, but composed of several short lengths curiously joined, not with flat surfaces, but articulated into each other like ball and socket. The length of these particular stones from joint to joint is various ; generally, they are from 12 to

24 inches long, and near the bottom they are longer than toward the top. Their size and diameter differ also; in general they are from 15 to 20 inches in diameter. The cliffs, at a great distance from the causeway, especially in the bay to the eastward, exhibit at many places the same kind of columns, figured and jointed in all respects like those of the grand causeway.

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The causeway is divided into three parts, or platforms the Little, Middle, and Grand Causeways. The objects best worthy the attention of the visitor are the following:

The GIANT'S GATEWAY, a gap bounded on each side by columns. THE GIANT'S ORGAN, consisting of a number of large pillars declining on either side to shorter and shorter ones, like the strings of a harp. The GIANT'S AMPHITHEATRE, "the most beautiful work of the kind, that in Rome not excepted." The GIANT'S CHIMNEY TOPS, three isolated pillars standing upon a promontory, the tallest about 45 feet in height. The Priest and his Flock, The Nursing child, The King and his Nobles, will all be pointed out by the guides. Pleaskin Head, "the finest of all promontories,' rises to a height of 370 feet. Be yond are the Giant's Pulpit, a precipitous rock, an irregular pillar called the Giant's Granny, and near it four isolated columns called the Four Sisters.

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The tourist who chooses the coast route for his return to BELFAST, will find much to interest him on the way. Between the Causeway and BALLYCASTLE is one of the most interesting natural curiosities in this extensive basaltic region, the little pyramidal islet of "Carrick-aRede," "the rock in the road." The epithet is derived from the interruption which this mass of

basalt occasions to the salmon ranging along the coast in quest of their original haunt. Elevated upwards of 300 feet, the level also of the nearest mainland, sterility keeps uncontrolled possession of the surface; while the majestic swell of the ocean, the almost uninterrupted prevalence of boisterous weather, and the eternal screaming of the sea-fowl that hover overhead, or sweep rapidly around the island, present a picture of remoteness from the busy haunts of man, of a melancholy meaning. Here, too, are not wanting horrors to enhance the effect of sublimity, for between the island and the shore is a dark, deep gulf, where the surges beat and the billows roar, and the spray is in eternal suspense. Across this gulf of frightful depth the proprietor of the valuable salmon-fishery has thrown a rope suspension bridge, for the accommodation of his fishermen during the season. Like the geological structure of the rock itself, there was a time when the bridge excited curiosity, and when its transit was performed, and remembered as a performance evincing the most manly courage; but the repute of both has faded, science has dissipated that astonishment which the scrupulous and accurate formation of columnar basalt once excited, and suspension-bridges have become universally adopted.

The swinging bridge from the Antrim coast to the rocky islet, consists of two parallel ropes secured to rings let into the rock on each side of the yawning chasm, with crossing cords, on which, as on the rounds of a ladder, planks are loosely laid. There is undoubtedly little attention here paid to security; the whole structure swings with every breeze, the planks are not even tied to the cross cords, and a rail or hand

guide would rather increase the danger to a passenger, from the peril of reaction. Those who are employed in the conduct of the fishery pass rapidly and safely over, much aided in the accomplishment by the stability which a basket-load of salmon on the back contributes. When the season closes, the clerk retires from his island hut, having previously removed his temporary bridge, and from this period the rock is inaccessible, save at even a greater risk than before-an approach to its dangerous coast by water. BALLYCASTLE (Hotel: Antrim Arms), a dull town of about 2000 inhabitants. Near it are the ruins of Bonamargy Abbey, erected in the fourteenth century. Near CUSHENDUN, a pretty village with neat residences, the road crosses the Glendum river by a lofty and handsome viaduct supported by three arches. GLENARM, a village

King's Arms), a beautifully situated town, now the terminus of the railway from Carrickfergus and Belfast. There are four trains daily from Larne to Belfast. 14 miles from Larne we reach

CARRICKFERGUS (Hotel: Victoria), a town or about 4000 inhabitants, with very few attractions. The chief objects of interest are the castle and the church; the former, built by the De Courceys, is still habitable. The church contains some fine monuments of the Chichesters. King William III. landed here in 1689, before the battle of the Boyne.

ROUTE 9.

DUBLIN TO KILKENNY.

of about 1000 inhabitants. The 81 miles; first class, 15s.; second,

castle is the seat of the Earls of Antrim. It is opposite the town, and is surrounded by a fine park. A somewhat enthusiastic writer says of the castle and its vicinity, "Near the village and castle all traces of wilderness vanish entirely, and a charming park and pretty flower garden confer additional beauties on the scene. The castle itself is built in a fine old Gothic style, and furnished with modern taste and elegance. Four hundred deer graze around it, and six hundred old ancestral trees overshadow its grounds with their spreading boughs; and all this siniling and peaceful beauty sheltered between the wild rocks which form the little glen, with a view opening on old Ocean rolling its stormy white crested waves beyond, forms perhaps the most wonderful site in all the world for a stately baronial mansion." Twelve miles from Glenarm, by an excellent road, is LARNE (Hotel:

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11s. 4d.; third, 6s. 8d.

HE route from Dublin is the same as that to Cork as far as Kil

dare (see Route 4). At Kildare (30 miles from Dublin) we take the Irish SouthEastern Railway to Kilkenny, passing CARLOW (55 miles) (Hotels Club House). It is situated upon the river Barrow. Its castles erected in the twelfth century by Hugh de Lacy, is celebrated in the military annals of Ireland. It contains a handsome Catholic church and college, and a fine English church. Nothing remains of the castle except two tower, about sixty feet in height and the ruins of the wall which connected them. KILKENNY (81 miles), (Hotels: Club House, Imperial). Pop. 13,235. Situated on the river Nore. It was once a place of considerable importance, as its castle, the ruins of its massive

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walls and churches testify. formerly had a considerable trade in woollens, but this has fallen off, and the chief business of the town is its retail trade and the sale of the agricultural products of the surrounding district. The most conspicuous object is the baronial castle of the Marquis of Ormond, which is full of historical associations. It was originally built by Strongbow, but has been repeatedly enlarged, and has been greatly improved by the present marquis. The grounds are not extensive, but are well laid out. The cathedral of St Canice, built in 1202, is not excelled by any of the ancient ecclesiastical buildings of Ireland, except St Patrick's and Christ Church in Dublin. The church of St John, which belonged to an ancient abbey, has been called the "Lantern of Ireland," on account of the great number of its windows. Near the city is a marble quarry of considerable importance. Thirtyone miles from Kilkenny is WATERFORD, a sea-port, with a population of 23,000, but with nothing of interest to the tourist.

ROUTE 10.

DUBLIN TO GALWAY.

126 miles; first class,228.; second, 17s. 6d. third, 118. 8d.

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HE first place of interest on the route is MAYNOOTH (15 miles), chiefly celebrated for Roman Catholic College, which has given rise to political controversies which have made it famous. The college has been endowed by various Acts of Parliament since 1795. During the present reign it has been permanently endowed for the education of 500 students and 20 senior scholars, and 30,000l. has been appropriated for the erection of buildings. All students admitted must be designed for the priesthood in Ireland.

At one end of the single street of Maynooth is an entrance to Carton, the seat of the Duke of Leinster; at the other are the ruins of the once-powerful castle formerly belonging to his family, the Fitzgeralds.

MULLINGAR (50 miles), where are held important fairs and markets for horses, cattle, and farm produce, and containing barracks for1000soldiers. BALLINASLOE(92 miles), chiefly remarkable for its fairs and markets. GALWAY (126 miles). (Hotel: Railway.) Pop. 16,146. The city, situated upon the magnificent bay of the same name, is of considerable antiquity, and the older part consists of streets and lanes huddled together without regard to comfort or convenience. It partakes of the appearance of a Spanish town, the result of its early intercourse with Spain. Many of the houses bear traces of an architecture similar to that seen in Spanish

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