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derry to be exported to Liverpool for Manchester, and
some to Scotland, the finer being disposed of at Cole-
raine, Newtown, &c. The fabric made in Coleraine is the
finest, and all webs of the same texture, wherever manu-
factured, are called Coleraines. The fabrics of London-
derry are of two kinds, one only twenty-seven inches
wide, made of tow yarn, and called Derry wrappers;
the other thirty-two inches wide, and made of fine yarn.
Considerable quantities of linens are exported un-
bleached; the coarse chiefly to Liverpool. The white
linens are shipped from Londonderry or Coleraine to
Liverpool or London. Coarse red pottery is made at
Agivey, and at some other places. There are several
distilleries and breweries, and numerous corn and flour
mills. The coast abounds with all the ordinary kinds
of fish, which are taken for home consumption; but the
principal fisheries are those of salmon and eels in the
Bann, which are superior in extent to any others in
Ireland, employing a great number of persons; almost the
entire produce of salmon is exported. There are several
other considerable fisheries along the sea-coast and in
the small rivers; but most of the salmon brought to
the provincial markets comes from a distance of several
miles, and is much inferior to that of the Bann. The
commerce of the county centres in the city of London-
derry and the town of Coleraine, but chiefly the former.
At Ballyronan, on Lough Neagh, vessels of sixty tons’
burden can unlade, and, though the exports are incon-
siderable, timber, iron, slates, coal, flax seed, hardware,
and groceries are landed in large quantities.
The principal rivers are the Foyle, the Bann, the
Roe, and the Faughan. The Foyle, which derives its
name from the smoothness of its current, intersects
the liberties of the city of Londonderry, in a majestic
course north-eastward, having descended from Lifford,
where, after the union of several important streams, it
first obtains its name: at Culm ore, six miles below the
city, which it appears formerly to have insulated, it
expands into the estuary of Lough Foyle. The Bann,
or “White River,” so called from the purity of its
waters, intersects the liberties of Coleraine, within four
miles of its junction with the ocean; but the navigation
is greatly obstructed by shallows and a very dangerous
bar, where the currents of the fresh water and the tide
meet. The Roe, or “Red River,” so called from the
colour of its waters, receives at Dungiven the Owen-
Reagh: hence, in its course directly north, it receives
from the mountains on each side the Owen-Beg, the
Gelvin-water, the Balteagh river, and the Castle and
Curley rivers; and winding through the fertile flat by
Newtown-Limavady, it falls into Lough Foyle at Myroe.
The flat country bordering the lower part of its course
is exposed to sudden and impetuous floods poured down
from the surrounding mountains: many acres of the
finest lands are with difficulty defended by embank-
ments, and even with this protection the securing of the
crop is never a matter of certainty. The deposits brought
down by this river form many shifting banks in the
Lough, which prevent its mouth from becoming a con-
venient little port, although there is sufficient depth of
water at high tides. The Faughan in its course re-
ceives numerous rills and streams from the surrounding
heights, and falls into Lough Foyle. The Moyola is a
considerable stream descending into Lough Neagh; the
principal tributaries of the Bann are the Clady, Agivey,
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and Macosquin streams. There are no canals connect-
ed with the county, but an inland navigation, either by
a canal, or lateral cuts along the Bann, is contemplated
from Lough Neagh to Coleraine, and a bill is now being
applied for to enable the proprietors of the lands round
the lake to lower it to a summer level, and thereby
render the Bann navigable to Coleraine. The contem-
plated line of railway from Armagh to Portrush will
pass for more than 30 miles through the county, but
no steps have yet been taken respecting it, beyond the
selection of the line. The roads are numerous and
highly important, several very useful lines have been
made and others greatly improved solely at the expense
of the Drapers’ Company; all the other roads are made
and kept in repair by Grand Jury presentments. Several
new lines of road are contemplated, the principal of
which is a mail road from Belfast to Derry, of which
that portion from the Pullans to Coleraine is already
commenced.
In the original plantation of the county in 1609, and
the subsequent years, the English settlers were located
in the fertile tracts along the borders of Loughs Foyle
and Neagh, and the banks of the Roe and Bann;
the Scotch were placed in the higher lands as a kind
of military barrier between their more favoured brethren
of the south country and the Irish, who, with the ex-
ception of a few native freeholders, were removed to
the mountain districts. The varieties of religion cor-
responded with those of country, the English being
Protestants of the Established Church; the Scotch,
Presbyterians, or other sects of Protestant dissenters;
and the Irish, Roman Catholics. This arrangement of
severance long prevented, and still in some degree
continues to prevent, the amalgamation of the several
classes. The Irish, shut up within their secluded moun-
tain ravines, retain many of their peculiarities of lan-
guage, customs, and religion; those of Glenullin, though
near a large Protestant settlement at Garvagh, will
admit none but members of their own church to reside
among them, though in other respects they are on terms
of great kindliness with their neighbours of a different
creed, except when under the excitation of party animo-
sity. The residences of many respectable gentlemen are
in the cottage style, generally ornamented and surround-
ed with planting and gardens: the habitations of the
rural population are of every description, from the slated
two-story house of brick or stone, and the long narrow
cottage with two or three partitions, to the cabin of dry
stone or clay, without even a window. In the districts
of Coleraine and Desertmartin, where lime is plentiful,
the dwellings of the peasantry are neatly white-washed,
and sometimes rough-cast, but in other parts they pre-
sent a very sombre appearance.
Remains of its ancient inhabitants of every period
are scattered over the county. There is a cromlech at
Slaght Manus, another at Letter-Shandenny, a third at
Slaghtaverty, and others at Bally-na-screen: some had
been surrounded by a circle of upright stones. There
are remains of sepulchral mounts or tumuli at Mul-
lagh-cross, and a vast tumulus is seen at Dovine, be-
tween Newtown-Limavady and Coleraine, besides several
of smaller dimensions. Numerous cairns are met with.
in every quarter, especially on the summits of the
mountains. Near Dungiven is a very remarkable se-
pulchral pillar. Raths or Danish forts are likewise