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now made at the Arigna works. Iron-stone is found
not only in the northern but likewise in the western
part of the county, where it was formerly smelted in
small quantities; and between Mantua and Belanagare
occurs a tough compound calcareous stone, containing
pale, blueish, striated flints, resembling chalcedony and
agate. Except the above, scarcely any manufactures
are now carried on; that of linen, which partially flou-
rished while supported by bounties, having become
nearly extinct when they were withdrawn; and even the
domestic manufacture of coarse flannels, striped woollens,
and cotton stuffs, for home consumption, is injured by
the rivalry of cheap goods from England. The com-
merce therefore consists in the export of agricultural
produce, in the extensive sales of cattle at the surround-
ing marts, of which Ballinasloe is the principal, and in
the importation of the foreign supplies required by its
wealthier population.
The chief rivers connected with the county are the
Shannon and the Suck. The Shannon, from Lough
Allen, throughout the whole of its course along the east-
ern frontier of the county, has been made navigable, not-
withstanding its numerous rapids. The difficulties of
the first seven miles and a half are obviated by a
canal from Lough Allen, near Drumshambo, to Battle-
bridge, whence the navigation is continued down the
river to Carrick-on-Shannon, below which it winds a
smooth and majestic course beneath high cliffs of
gravel on the Roscommon side, and a mile or two
farther forms numerous little bays and inlets, and
encircles some small islands. A second canal then
occurs, to avoid the rapids between Jamestown and
Drumsna. After passing through Loughs Bodarrig and
Boffin, the Shannon again becomes shallow and nar-
row, and, to obviate the obstructions, a canal of about
three-quarters of a mile in length is carried past the
falls of Ruskey. At Tarmonbarry the rapids are
avoided by coasting round the great island of Cloondra,
at the lower end of which a short canal re-communicates
with the river: the next town on the navigation is
Lanesborough, where rapids are avoided by another
artificial cut, and immediately below the river expands
into Lough Ree, nearly eighteen English miles in length,
the navigation of which, is attended with some danger
on account of its sunken rocks and shoals, the most
difficult part being the end next Lanesborough; where
the channel is narrow and tortuous; the greatest depth
of water of this lake does not exceed seventy-five feet,
and the general depth is much less. Great numbers of
pleasure boats are kept upon it, but along the whole
Roscommon shore there is not a quay for large vessels,
nor any place interested in, or connected with, the navi-
gation of the lake, except an occasional group of cabins.
From the lower end of Lough Ree the Shannon glides
in a broad navigable channel a mile and a half to Ath-
lone, below the ancient bridge of which the falls are
avoided by a canal about a mile in length. The rest of
its course is through a dreary and thinly inhabited
country by Shannon bridge to the influx of the Suck,
where it quits the county. With the Shannon naviga-
tion are connected all the other lines of water commu-
nication with which this county is intersected, the Royal
Canal to Dublin entering it at Richmond harbour below
Tarmonbarry, and the Grand Canal at Shannon harbour,
below the confines of the county, whence a branch is
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extended westward to Ballinasloe. The Shannon serves
for the transmission of turf, brick, sand, lime, flags,
marble, slates, native timber, manures, coal, culm, and
stone for building; besides potatoes, meal, flour, grain,
and other articles of provision. Coal is brought down
from Lough Allen to Carrick, Drumsna, and even to
Athlone; but the population is so dispersed over the
country, that the trade in this article is necessarily very
small. Corn and butter are exported by the canals; and
heavy articles, such as sugar, iron, deals, slates, manu-
factured goods, &c., received by them in return.
The Suck is navigable to Ballinasloe for flat-bot-
tomed barks of light burden; small row boats as-
cend still higher; but the construction of the canal from
this town to Shannon harbour has rendered the
river navigation unnecessary. The Shannon and Suck
abound with all the common kinds of river fish, espe-
cially with eels, of which vast quantities are taken at
weirs erected for the purpose, and a large supply sent
to Dublin; those of the Suck are esteemed peculiarly
fine. The principal smaller rivers are the Breeogue;
the Lung, which has a subterraneous passage for about
a mile; collaterally with one of its tributaries, and at
length enters Lough Gara; and the Gara river, or Boyle
water, which, on emerging from Lough Kea, becomes
navigable for small craft, but below Knockvicar bridge,
and below the upper lough of Oakford, dwindles into a
mere stream which, in ordinary seasons, could scarcely
be supposed to afford the only channel for all the waters
which pour from Lough Gara and Lough Kea. Besides
this last tributary, the Shannon receives from Roscom-
mon the powerful stream of Arigna; the Florish, from
Lough Skean and Meelagh; and a large stream from
under Carnadoe bridge, discharged from a chain of
small lakes in the interior, the lowest and largest of
which is about three miles in length. Plans have been
proposed for extending a branch of the Shannon and
Royal Canal navigations to the town of Roscommon;
but their execution has not been undertaken. The roads
are numerous and highly important, as the lines of
communication between Dublin and every part of Con-
naught pass through this county. The old lines of road
are crooked and in many parts very hilly, but generally
well made, though wet in winter in consequence of the
drains and watercourses not being properly attended to.
A line has recently been opened from Tarmonbarry to
Lung bridge, another from Roscommon to Richmond
harbour and Ruskey, and another from Lanesborough
to Strokestown. All the roads are kept in order by
Grand Jury presentments, as there are no toll gates in
the county.
The most numerous class of antiquities are the raths,
which abound in the northern and middle baronies, but
are less frequent in the south. No less than 470 are
marked on the Grand Jury map of the county; and the
people generally regard them with veneration, deeming
it unlucky to disturb or cultivate them. At Jamestown
are two, remarkable for being situated so close to each
other that the encircling trenches join. There is a
still more curious circular fortification at Lough Glynn,
and at Oran are the remains of an ancient round tower.
The monastic remains are also various and interesting;
Archdall enumerates 50 religious establishments of va-
rious kinds; and there are still interesting and pictur-
esque ruins of Boyle abbey, of that at Clonshanvill, of