THE RELIEF OF DISTRESS IN IRELAND.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1921, 21 April 1880, Page 3

THE RELIEF OF DISTRESS IN IRELAND.

A correspondent of the " Standard," who has gone with Hor Majesty's gunboat to the relief of the people living in the islands off the west coaßt of Ireland, writes on February 19th : —Notwithstanding vexatious delays and extremely unfavourable weather, the Goshawk is progressing well in her cruise. The work of relief has thrown a great amount of extra labor on the ehouiders of both officers and crew; but I mußt bear joyful testimony to tho hearty and satisfactory manner in which their disagreeable task is performed. A few words as to the modus operandi of our relief operations. As soon as the Goshawk approaches within safe distance of a group of islands shelter is sought in some convenient natural harbor. The anchor has scarcely touched tho bottom before the captain's gig or the cutter, containing usually Captain Suckling, the Govermuant Inspector (Mr Robineon), Lieutenant Warden, and the Chief Engineer (Mr Fichs) is under weigh for the shore. To reach the coast and to land are, however, as we often find, two very different things. Huge reefs and irregular masses of rock, covered with a thick growth of tangled Eeiweod, bar our progress to the beach. Across these barriers we make our way with great difficulty and no little risk. As soon as the inhabitants gather round us inquiry is made for the poorest and most destitute families, and from that moment until we re-embark our lime is spent in the work of inspection. It is needless to dwell on the great personal inconvenience attending our labors. Wading through bogs and scrambling over rocks must be faced, for paths there are absolutely none to speak of. In the cabins the families are almost invariably found sitting round the fire. The conversation is always carried on in Irish, through the medium of a native who has pickod up a smattering of English, or an Irish seaman from the Goshawk who speaks Gaelic with great fluency. One cabin inspected, and its occupants' tale of want and distress noted, we pass on to the next, and so the inspection is carried on until nearly every house has been visited. " Living on seed potatoes and Indian meal" iB tho universal story, and dirt, discomfort, and misery are the characteristics of nearly every cabin. As if resigned to their dismal fate, the people apparently mako no effort to alleviate such of their miserable circumstances as lie within their power. They seem to live contentedly in dilapidated hovels scarcely fitted for the accommodation of cattle, and built for the most part by themselves. So long as they have food sufficient to stave off hunger, the turf to keep the fire on tho hearth, they are happy. Insensible to the foul element in their surroundings produced by the presence in the same apartment of cows, pigs, or poultry, and the blinding smoke that fills the eyes, mouth, and throat and rondera inhalation painful, they pass a dull, monotonous existence scarcely removed from that of the animals with which they herd. Were it not for the healthful nature of their occupations and the ozone-laden sea breezes that blow through their ricketty cabins, they would inevitably be swept away by pestilence. When I inquired why they could not even provide their housos with the luxury of a email window, they declared that their poverty was such that thoy could not afford the price of a sheet of glass. According to their number the poorest families—our small supply precludes more extended relief—are provided with orders for a sack or half a sack of meal from the Goshawk, or perhaps the most influential man on the island is entrusted with a few sacks for distribution among his distressed neighbors. One island traversed, a bsat is secured and we proceed to tho next.