ds told me (although the
cunning old clerk took care to avoid it), that each pilgrim paid the
priest from 1s. 8d. to 2s. 6d., therefore we may suppose that the profit
to the prior of Lough Derg and his priests was no small sum.

"In a short time I arrived at the island, and as stepping out of the
boat I planted my foot on the rocks of this scene of human absurdity,
I felt ashamed for human nature, and looked on myself as one of the
millions of fools that have, century after century, degraded their
understandings by coming hither. The island I found to be of an oval
shape.

"The buildings on it consisted of a slated house for the priests, two
chapels, and a long range of cabins on the rocky surface of the island,
which may contain about half an acre; there were also certain round
walls about two feet high, enclosing broken stone and wooden crosses;
these were called saints' beds, and around these circles, on the sharp
and stony rocks, the pilgrims go on their naked knees. Altogether I
may briefly sum up my view of this place, and say that it was filthy,
dreary, and altogether detestable--it was a positive waste of time to
visit it, and I hope I shall never behold it again."*

* Fire at Lough Derg.--On the 15th Aug 1842, the
station at this celebrated place was brought to a
conclusion; but in the course of the night it was
discovered that some of the houses were on fire, and
four dwellings which, we believe, were recently
erected, were altogether consumed. The people of the
neighboring country directed their efforts chiefly to
the preservation of the prior's house, which adjoined
those in flames, and by pouring a continued supply of
water against its windows, succeeded in saving it. The
night being calm, and the wind in a favorable
direction, the injury sustained was less than must have
existed under different circumstances. The houses burnt
were occupied as lodgings for pilgrims when on station.

The following is extracted from Bishop Henry Jones's account, published
in 1647:

"The island called St. Patrick's Purgatory is altogether rocky, and
rather level; within the compass of the island, in the water towards
the north-east, about two yards from the shore, stand certain rocks, the
least of which, and next the shore, is the one St. Patrick knelt on for
the third part of the night in prayer, he did another third in his cell,
which is called his