-named by his
incredulous countrymen "Marco Millione." But when I say that I have
seen scores of flights a quarter of a mile long, that I have seen
reaches of water so full of ducks and other water fowl that they
looked like floating islands, I only give a faint idea of the quantity
I have beheld between Islandavanna and the abortive ocean steam-packet
port of Foynes.

Islandavanna is one of three stations of the reclamation works, and is
occupied by about a third of the four hundred and fifty men now at
work. In the summer seven hundred were employed, but the present
season is not so favourable for getting stone and pushing on
operations.

The electric light, however, will, it is hoped, help matters greatly,
and redress the balance of the "long nights and short days." By the
way, I saw at Islandavanna, or rather at the other end of the causeway
which connects it with the mainland, a man who once employed that
expression in the menacing manner I have previously alluded to, with
the effect of causing the foreman of the works to seek occupation in
another and far distant land. Owing to some disagreement the foreman
had dismissed or suspended this man, who had already been tried for
murder and acquitted. Hereat he took his gun to go snipe-shooting as
he said, walked about lanes and generally hovered about the place in
such threatening fashion that it was thought well to persuade the
foreman to go away. At the present moment Mr. Drinkwater and his
friend Mr. Johnstone, the civil engineer from whose plans the work is
carried out, are on the best terms with the workpeople; but the
process by which comfortable relations have been brought about has
been gradual. It is not pretended that when labour is required, and
there is money to pay for it, any prejudice is felt against the Saxon
as an employer. Far from it. A downright, straightforward Saxon, even
if he be a Protestant, is looked upon by the Irish working folk with
far less suspicion than one of their own class, and there is little
fear of their combining against him, for they are far more likely to
quarrel amongst themselves.

It is hardly possible to convey more than the faintest idea of the
rancour evolved by the jealousy of the Clare men against the Limerick
men, of the hatred of both against a Galway man, and of the aversion
of all three counties for Mayo and Donegal people. The citizens of the
petty republics of Greece and Italy never abhorred each other more
fe