t is made in several qualities, from line warp and
weft to two warp and weft, and is used chiefly for aprons, pocketing,
soldiers' gaiters, linings and overalls. The finer makes are sometimes
made into shirts for workmen, and occasionally used for heavy
pillow-cases. The word is spelt in many different ways, but the above is
the common way of spelling adopted in factories, and it appears in the
same form in Shakespeare's _First Part of Henry IV._, Act III. scene 3.
The modern dowlas is a good, strong and closely woven linen fabric.

DOWN, a maritime county of Ireland, in the province of Ulster, occupying
the most easterly part of the island, bounded N. by Co. Antrim and
Belfast Lough, E. and S. by the Irish Sea, and W. by Co. Armagh. The
area is 607,916 acres, or nearly 950 sq. m. The coast line is indented
by several loughs and bays. The largest of these is Strangford Lough, a
fine sheet of water studded with 260 islets, 54 of which have names. All
are well wooded or rich in pasturage. The lough runs for 10 m.
northwards, and the ancient castles and ruined abbeys on some of the
islets render the scene one of singular interest and beauty. Farther
south Dundrum Bay forms a wider expanse of water. In the south-west
Carlingford Lough separates the county from Louth. There are no lakes of
importance. Between Strangford and Carlingford loughs the county is
occupied by a range of hills known in its south-western portion as the
Mourne Mountains, which give rise to the four principal rivers--the
Bann, the Lagan, the Annacloy and the Newry. This mass includes, several
striking peaks, of which the principal is Slieve Donard, rising finely
direct from the sea to a height of 2796 ft., which is exceeded in
Ireland only by one peak in the Wicklow range, and by the higher reeks
in Killarney. Several other summits exceed 2000 ft.

Holy wells and mineral springs are numerous in Co. Down. These are both
chalybeate and sulphurous, and occur at Ardmillan, Granshaw, Dundonnell,
Magheralin, Dromore, Newry, Banbridge and Tierkelly. Those of Struell
near Downpatrick were accredited with miraculous powers by the natives
until recent times, and religious observances of an extravagant nature
took place there.

_Geology._--The foundation of this county is Silurian rock throughout,
the slates and sandstones striking as a whole north-east, but giving
rise to a country of abundant small hills. The granite that appears
along the same a