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and almost sanctions the belief that it should bear its second name of Cloech-meur, or the finger-stone; and this is the way of it:-"In the ould ancient times long ago, when Fionn M'Comhal (which English organs articulate Fin M'Cool) dwelt in the fertile Fingal, the fame of his prowess reached Scotland, and a Caledonian giant, one Benandonner, sent him a challenge to fight, which Fionn, of course, accepted. Benandonner accordingly came to Ireland, landed at Dundrum, and had come as far as Sliev Bân, to meet Fionn. But Fionn, being a specimen of the proverbial politeness of his country, even in those days, deemed it courteous to meet him half-way, and had reached Carlingford Mountain at the same time that Benandonner reached Sliev Bân. It was here found that they could not readily cross to each other, and as pistols were not then in fashion, Fionn, by way of greeting, picked up this "finger stone" (the incredulous can see from this spot the very gap on the top of Carlingford Mountain which he picked it out of, and which is about the size and shape of Clough-meur) and pitched it across the Lough, and it lighted on the very spot where it now stands, at Benandonner's feet, who, after such a taste of Fionn's quality, speedily decamped, quite crestfallen to the North Countrie,' while Fionn was going round to meet him."

There is another version that Benandonner showed more pluck; that he actually did cross the Lough, and after fighting as became one of his inches, he was forced to yield. It is added, that Fionn took a conqueror's liberties with him, and, for his presumption, chained him, Prometheus-like, upon Carlingford Mountain. As a confirmation, the giant is still pointed out from this side of the Lough. On a clear day you can indeed trace his profile from the crown of his head to the soles of his feet, as he lies stretched in all his vast proportions on the summit. Those who are still sceptical, if they climb Clough-meur, can see on its top the impression of a giant hand. They will find this no easy feat, however. Twice did we attempt it, and twice did it cast us off; but we rose, Antæus like, each time refreshed from the embrace of mother earth, and the third time we succeeded.

Clough-meur is a point of general re-union to pic-nic parties from Rosstrevor, whom the labour of climbing to the top of the mountain may deter from proceeding beyond the great stone. The ascent thus far, and afterwards also, is described by Mrs. S. C. Hall, in a mode which it would be unpardonable to omit here, though it necessarily embraces much of what we have already seen in our own more prosaic fashion :

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From Warren-point, backed by the mountains, and facing the broad bay, some three miles to the east, is Rosstrevor. There are few places in Great Britain that offer stronger temptations

to visitors who love the picturesque, enjoy the magnificence of nature, or desire tranquil and healthful retirement. Although completely open to the sea, it is approached only by mild southern breezes; the adjacent hills protect it completely on the north and east, and a promontory, covered with luxuriantlygrown trees, juts between it and the west; villas, mansions, and cottage ornées, surround it on all sides, wherever the mountains have left small nooks of verdure; and streamlets innumerable are rippling down into the valley from the hill-sides. Under the fostering care of its owner, David Robert Ross, Esq., M.P., the village has within the last few years grown to the magnitude and importance of a town; its natural beauties have been appreciated-it seems the very temple of health-and persons from all the northern and midland counties of Ireland have made it their place of residence-at least for a season. Consequently, neat, clean, and well-built cottages have sprung up along the banks of the bay, which are furnished for, and let to, lodgers. It is difficult to conceive a spot that looks more happy and prospering than this-so beautifully situated; nestling at the foot of the mighty mountain and bordering upon the ocean, into which its gardens absolutely run.

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It was on a Sabbath morning, early, that we set out to climb the great hill of Clough-More, one of the Mourne range: the one that hangs directly over Rosstrevor, sheltering it from all unkindly winds. High as it looked, soaring above us, as we stood at the door of a very comfortable inn, it is one of the smallest of the chain to which it belongs, which are said to be upwards of thirty-six miles in circumference; the loftiest, SlievDonard, being, according to the Ordnance Survey, 2796 feet above the level of the sea. Clough-More, the great stone,' is so called from a huge mass of granite, weighing perhaps thirty tons, which stands upon the summit of a projecting cliff nearly midway up the mountain. How it got there is one of the buried secrets of the past; if placed there by human labour, if indeed 'the work of Druid hands of old,' it would almost sanction the belief that they had the assistance of fallen spirits-the giant sons of Anak, who rebelled against the Creator. There are, nevertheless, several circumstances which encourage the idea that its singular situation was not the result of chance. It stands upon the brow of a small hill; and under it are remains of oblong stones, such as we commonly find supporting the capstones of cairns; it is hollowed beneath, sloping gradually toby comparison-a pivot. It is almost impossible to conceive that it could have been dropped into its place—a contribution from one of the adjacent mountains; for the greater elevations are at a considerable distance, and a valley of some depth and

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space intervenes between its site and the heights that look down upon it. There are also other indications of cromleachs in various directions around it. When we had reached this singular summit singular if it be a natural deposit, and most wonderful if a record of art-and examined it some time with attention, we found that a little more than a third of the mountain had been climbed; and as we gazed over an extensive prospect, and stood as it were directly over the fair grounds of Mr. Ross, and the sweetly sheltered village, we found that time had passed far more rapidly than we had imagined, for the chimes of the Sabbath bell-the sound that so emphatically speaks of civilisation-came from the valley up the mountain with a clear, sharp, and shrill sound; and we saw groups assembling in the distance, down, on their way to church. We had never so complete a feeling of entire solitude; even then we were too high to have the companionship of the lark; there was no sound except the wind among the long grass, or the rushes that grew in the hollows where the waters had congregated; the great stones about us seemed as if they bore dates of an age before the flood, and had a solemn and impressive awe in their shapeless forms. We made our way to the mountain top. That which from the valley seemed a peak, was a large flat of several acres, covered with wet moss. How magnificent was the prospect! we involuntarily quoted the line applied to a very different subject-a city where the smoke was ascending from tens of thousands of human habitations,

'Earth hath not any thing to show more fair!'

Immediately below us was the Bay with its innumerable tiny creeks; in one of which, just under the shelter of the mountain opposite, lies the pretty town of Carlingford; and, to the north, on the other side of a long flat that stretches out into the sea, is the Bay, behind which lies the town, of Dundrum. Beautiful Rosstrevor seemed as if sleeping at our feet. Behind us were the everlasting hills; and, ocean-ward, the sight was arrested for a moment by a shadow upon the waters; this was the Isle of Man, yery dimly seen; to the south the Hill of Howth appeared distinctly. Looking inland, the mountains rose one above another, over the Bay; and the Bay seemed so directly under us, that we fancied a stone thrown from the spot on which we stood might have fallen into it; opening among the hills was a most rich valley, continued all the way to Lough Neagh, a distance of forty miles. In the foreground, carrying the eye beyond Rosstrevor, with the tall spire of its pretty church, the green verdure of its encompassing fields, and the fine foliage of its abundant trees, we trace the course of the river winding up to Newry, with the village of

Warrenpoint midway. And still we had the mountains, look where we would; bleak and barren, and rudely picturesque; with here and there the brown tracks of footways, and patches of cultivation, marking them as objects which industry was labouring to subdue. The interest of the scene was enhanced by the perpetual alternations of light and shade which passed over the fair and glorious landscape. The Bay was very tranquil; so calm, it seemed as if the mountains kept even the breezes from it; a single vessel was riding there; its sails were hanging loosely-quite unmoved. A grasshopper was singing amid the long grass; and a hawk more than once soared from his nest in some neighbouring cliff; lazily and idly, for there was nothing near which could afford him prey. The day had become bright and hot as we commenced the descent; the sun was shining somewhat fiercely upon us-when suddenly, and by the merest chance, we heard the trickle of a little well, the only one to be found upon the mountain; the draught of water was, in truth, delicious; it was clear and pure as crystal as it oozed apparently out of the solid rock, rambled for a brief space among the stones that lay scattered at its base, and was again lost-to re-appear, probably, within a few yards of the ocean it was on its way to join. The day was drawing to a close when, pleasantly and profitably wearied, we reached the inn; its occupation will endure as one of the happiest of our memories. We long to visit the lovely village of Rosstrevor once again." Having mentioned Sliev Donard in Mrs. Hall's text, we shall also follow her example in borrowing a description of it from a writer in the Dublin Penny Journal.

"Sliev Donard is supposed to rise nearly four miles in gradual ascent, while the perpendicular height is estimated at nearly 3,000 feet.-From the northern brow of the mountain issues an exuberant fountain, which emits more than half a foot of water exceedingly rapid and pure. This stream, and many others, meet in their descent, and form a river, which, running through a channel of white stone, by ten thousand different breaks and windings, makes in summer a prospect of waterfalls, cascades, jets-d'eau, ponds, &c., the most various and delightful; but in winter floods, the roar and impetuosity of this fall are terrible in the extreme. From the top down to the rocks hanging over the sea is one continued descent; and the lower parts, though craggy and rude enough, are covered with hazel, holly, &c., those next to the sea cliffs being old, bowed, stunted, and languishing; while it is worthy of notice, that those most remote, though situated higher, are flourishing and healthy; and all this on the face of a mountain exposed to a wide, open, eastern sea. In the descent southward, near the bottom, one is

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