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CUMBERLAND’S VOYAGE TO THE AZORES. 817
So foon as we had anchored here, my lord went forthwith to fhore, and brought
frefh water, and frefh victuals, as muttons, pigs, hens, &c. to refrefh his company withal.
Notwithftanding himfelf had lately been very weak, and tafted of the fame extremity
that his company did: for in the time of our former want, having a little frefh water
left him remaining in a pot, in the night it was broken, and the water drunk and dried
up. Soon after the fick and wounded men were carried to the next principal town,
called Dingenacufh, being about three miles diftant from the forefaid haven, where our
fhip rode, to the eaftward, that there they might be the better refrefhed, and had the
chirurgiens daily to attend upon them. Here we well refrefhed ourfelves, whilft the
Jrifh harp founded fweetly in our ears, and here we, who for the former extre-
mities were in a manner half dead, had our lives (as it were) reftored unto us
again.
oTThis Dingenacufh is the chief town in all that part of Ireland, it confifteth but of
one main {treet, from whence fome {maller do proceed on either fide. It hath had gates
(as it feemeth) at cither end, to open and fhut as a town of war, and a cattle alfo.
The houfes are very ftrongly built with thick ftone walls, and narrow windows like
unto caftles: for as they confeffed, in time of trouble, by reafon of the wild Irifh, or
otherwile, they ufed their houfes for their defence, as caftles. The caftle, and all the
houfes in the town, fave four, were won, burned, and ruinated by the earl of Defmond.
Thefe four houfes fortified themfelves againft him, and withftood him and all his power
perforce, fo as he could not win them.
There remaineth yet a thick ftone wall that pafleth overthwart the midft of the ftreet,
which was a part of their fortification. Notwithftanding whilft they thus defended
themfelves, as fome of them yet alive confeffed, they were driven to as great extremities
as the Jews, befieged by Titus, the Roman emperor, infomuch that they were conftrain-
ed to eat dead men’s carcafes for hunger. The town is now again fomewhat repaired,
but in effect there remain but the ruins of the former town. Commonly they have
no chimnies in their houfes, excepting them of the better fort, fo that the fmoak was
very troublefome to us, while we continued there. Their fuel is turfs, which they
have very good, and whins or furs. There groweth little wood thereabouts, which
maketh building chargeable there: as alfo want of lime (as they reported) which they
are fain to fetch from far, when they have need thereof. But of {tones there is ftore
enough, fo that with them they commonly make their hedges to part each man’s ground
from other; and the ground feemeth to be nothing elfe within but rocks and {tones ;
yet it is very fruitful and plentiful of grafs, and grain, as may appear by the abundance
of kine and cattle there : infomuch that we had good muttons (though fomewhat lefs
than ours in England) for two fhillings or five groats a piece, good pigs and hens for
three-pence a piece.
The greateft want is induftrious, painful, and hufbandly inhabitants, to till and trim
the ground ; for the common fort, if they can provide fufficient to ferve from hand to
mouth, take no further care.
Of money (as it feemeth) there is very {mall ftore amongft them, which perhaps
was the caufe that made them double and treble the prices of many things we bought
of them, more than they were before our coming thither.
Good land was here to be had for four-pence the acre, yearly rent. ‘There are mines
of allum, tin, brafs, and iron. Stones we faw there as clear as cryflal, naturally fquared
like diamonds.
That part of the country is all full of great mountains and hills, from whence came
running down the pleafant itreams of fweet frefh running water. ‘The natural hard-
VOL. I. 5M nefs
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