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[SO I r IRELAND.
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The Upper Lake is the first at which the traveller arrives, if he journey z
, from Kenmare; but the last to be examined, if his starting-point be the 1
Z , town of Killarneyf" It is the smallest of the three, and much narrower
; than either of the others; but for grace and beauty, and all that makes I 3
I 1 the scene attractive, we cannot class it below them. It is situated in the l I
l midst of an amphitheatre of mountains; the effect of which is consider-.
ably heightened by the comparatively limited space the lake occupies.
I , From the police station (marked on the map) the best view will be ,
E ' I ‘ obtained. ‘
‘I l l The tourist on approaching the lakes of Killamey is, at once, struck by the 1
peculiarity and the variety of the foliage in the woods that clothe the hills by
which on all sides they are surrounded, The effect produced is novel, striking,
and beautiful; and is caused chiefly by the abundant mixture of the tree-shrub
(Arbutus Unedo‘[') with the forest-trees. The Arbutus grows in rich profusion
in nearly all parts of Ireland; but nowhere is it found of so large a. size, or in
such rich luxuriance, as at Killarney. The extreme western position, the mild
and humid atmosphere, (for, in Ireland, there is fact as well as fancy in the
poet’s image, '
‘...........v........................
“ Thy suns with doubtful gleam
lVeep while they rise,”)
and the rarity of frosts, contribute to its propagation, and nurture it to l
an enormous growth, far surpassing that which it attains in any piH‘t.0f
I: it Great Britain; although, even at Killarney, it is never of so great it S120
I as it is found clothing the sides of Mount Athos. In Dinis Island there
is one, the stem of which is seven feet in circumference, and its lleigllt
I 5‘ . ; ,3 .5 V is in proportion, being equal to that of an ash-tree of the same girth
‘ ‘ which stands near it; and on Rough Island, opposite O’Sullivan’s cast
3 cade, there is another, the circumference of which is nine feet and a half. ‘‘
: Alone, its character is not picturesque; the branches are bare, long, gnailetl, '
' m ;, and crooked; presenting in its wild state a remarkable contrast to its trim;
V , fomlaly ‘ma bush-like figure in our cultivated gardens. Mingled with other ,
.. p , trees, however, it is exceedingly beautiful; its bright green leaves l1“PP11y ‘V '
’ The tourist, to whom time is an object, should take a guide from Kenmare; he Wlll then 59 mad"
fainillar with every object of interest and importance before he an-lves either at Clorrhreeu or Killarney, and "9"
. V ,,
, 1 find it necessary to retrace his steps. He may also visit the Tom Waterfall on his way, and also IUWTOSS
Abbey. The journey from Kenmare, and the examination of these two places, may be 835")’ awmplisiied in
one day. . '
‘l Pliny says it is called “ Unedo” because, having eaten one, you will never desire to eat another. U I’
said, however, that an agreeable wine is made from the berry in the south of Europe.