32.  Tbalee,  the  county  town  of  Kerry,  is  situated  on  the
small  river  Lee,  and  possesses  considerable  trade.  Conti-
guous is  the  Spa  of  Tralee,  which  has  an  attractive  chaly-
beate spring.  Killarney,  a  small  inland  town,  is  celebrated
for  its  lakes,  which  are  a  general  source  of  attraction,
especially  since  they  have  become  accessible  by  rail  from
Dublin.  The  Gap  of  Dunloe,  with  its  castle,  romantically
situated  in  a  wild  ravine  (see  Vignette  on  next  page),  is  an
object  of  general  attraction.  Dingle,  a  small  seaport  on  the
north  side  of  the  bay  of  its  name,  is  the  most  western  town
in  Ireland.
Digitized  by  LjOOQ  IC


IreUmd.]


GENEBAL  BEMABKS  ON  IBELAND.
141


Gap  and  (Jatide  oi:'  Daiiloe.
Genebal  Eemabks  on  Ibeland.
1.  Among  the  mineral  products  of  Ireland,  coal  occurs  in
several  counties,  but  the  quality  is  inferior,  and  the  beds  are
very  little  worked.  Iron  ore  is  abundant,  but  useless,  for
want  of  coal.  Some  copper  and  lead  mines  are  wrought  in
Waterford,  Kerry,  and  Cork.  The  manufactures  are  riot
important,  except  that  of  linen,  chiefly  carried  on  in  Ulster.
It  was  introduced  in  the  reign  of  Charles  I.,  by  the  unfor-
tunate Earl  of  Strafford,  while  governor-general,  who  brought
flai  seed  from  Holland,  and  hired  foreigners  to  teach  the
process  of  production.
2.  Ireland  is  essentially  a  pastoral  and  agricultural  coun-
try, and  one  of  the  chief  sources  from  which  the  provision
markets  of  Great  Britain  are  supplied.  The  extreme  damp-
ness of  the  climate  limits  the  gi*owth  of  wheat  and  barley.
