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MUNSTER 25
them from the land. Yet of the people of Roscarbery
I form at least some picture from the sketches drawn
by the two ladies who relate the varied Experiences
of an Irish R.M. though West Cork needs to be
supplemented by knowledge of Connemara, to realize
the scenes that they have in mind. And from Balti-
more, or rather from a mile outside it, I carry away a
picture of a congregation dividing
after mass into two
rival political assemblies, and the one that I addressed
consisted largely of women wearing the great black
cloak, with black hood giving an odd framework to
the wearer's face, which is one of the few and cher-
ished relics of traditional costume. I was told on
good authority (when I lamented myself) that if I
had the women I had the votes, for West Cork was
in all matters under female governance. But of that
I cannot testify.
Baltimore is one of the great fishing
Ireland, and to it the population of Cape
stations of
Clear comes
for most necessaries of life. Along that coast many
craft are familiar, but an odd name hangs about one
set: the fishermen from near Dungarvan are always
known as "the Turks". In 1631 Algerine pirates made
a descent on the town of Baltimore, sacked it and
carried a hundred of its folk into slavery: and it was
a fisherman from Dungarvan who (under threat of
death) piloted the corsairs.