Such was the character of the prayers and ejaculations which issued from the lips of the motley group that scrambled, and crushed, and screamed, on their knees around the well.  In the midst of this ignorance and absurdity, there were visible, however, many instances of piety, goodness of heart, and simplicity of character.  From such you could hear neither oath nor exclamation.  They complied with the usages of the place modestly and attentively:  though not insensible, at the same time, to the strong disgust which the general conduct of those who were both superstitious and wicked was calculated to excite.  A little from the well, just where its waters mingled with those of the cascade, men and women might be seen washing the blood off their knees, and dipping such parts of their body as Were afflicted with local complaints into the stream.  This part’ of the ceremony was anything but agreeable to the eye.  Most of those who went round the well drank its waters; and several of them filled flasks and bottles with it, which they brought home for the benefit of such members of the family as could not attend in person.

Whilst all this went forward at the well, scenes of a different kind were enacted lower down among the tents.  No sooner had the penitents got the difficult rites of the Station over, than they were off to the whiskey; and decidedly, after the grinding of their bare knees upon the hard rock—­after the pushing, crushing, and exhaustion of bodily strength which they had been forced to undergo—­we say, that the comforts and refreshments to be had in the tents were very seasonable.  Here the dancing, shouting, singing, courting, drinking, and fighting, formed one wild uproar of noise, that was perfectly astounding.  The leading boys and the prettiest girls of the parish were all present, partaking in the rustic revelry.  Tipsy men were staggering in every direction; fiddles were playing, pipes were squeaking, men were rushing in detached bodies to some fight, women were doctoring the heads of such as had been beaten, and factions were collecting their friends for a fresh battle.  Here you might see a grove of shillelahs up, and hear the crash of the onset; and in another place, the heads of the dancing parties bobbing up and down in brisk motion among the crowd that surrounded them.

The pilgrim, having now gone through his Station, stood hemmed in by a circle of those who wanted to purchase his beads or his scapulars.  The ballad-singer had his own mob, from among whom his voice might be heard rising in its purest tones to the praise of—­

     “Brave O’Connell, the Liberathur,
     An’ great Salvathur of Ireland’s Isle!”