within their own length. There are also self-acting or automatic brakes, whereby the speed of the cars is prevented from exceeding 10 miles an hour. These were designed by Mr. E. B. Price, the assistant engineer."

It is a fact that on many of our railways travellers are wont to complain of the frequency of the stoppages, but on this interesting route the halts are short, and they are welcome; for everywhere they but afford facilities for a better view, or a visit to some point of romantic beauty or other interest. The "electric-borne" tourist, from his eyrie, may have sighed at beholding some rare geological formation of which he longed to secure a specimen in situ; the botanist has possibly just glanced at a promising group of flora, or the artist at a charming bit of colouring, amongst the many-toned rocks. Alas! they have swept past, but lo! the train comes to a stand, the desired opportunity has arrived; and "veni vidi vici" becomes a motto to him, or to her, accompanied by tangible trophies of success. These stoppings, it should be mentioned, are neither jerky nor alarming, each car having attached to it powerful brakes, which draw them up gradually and smoothly, or quickly, as may be required.

It would be impossible, in mere word-painting, to present any adequate idea of the extent and variety of the panorama which presents itself to the traveller upon his coast flight from Portrush to the Causeway. We leave the tramway depot, a handsome structure of hammerdressed basalt, relieved with mouldings and string courses of white brick, and with ease smoothly and silently climb the long and steep ascent to the "White Rocks," the only visible sign of a motive power being the slight flashes of electric light, as the "brushes" slip along the conductor rail. As Mr. Traill has said, "There are no straining horses to pity, no obnoxious fumes nor noise, nothing to denote the existence of any motive power, save the fact of the merry movement of the electric car, as it speeds along its pleasant journey." As we advance, how many glorious vistas open. Beneath are the so-called "eternal" rocks, worn and aged-looking, in their stubborn defiance of the more enduring ocean, which, in winter time, so fiercely charges them with its squadrons of white horses, whose riders and commanders are thunder, lightning, and hail, that they, strong as they are, must often "change front," and, after all, retire with considerable loss all along the line. The sternly standing cliffs at the entrance to "Long Gilbert" and the site of one of Neptune's mines are now flown over. The latter is, singularly enough, styled by the local guides the “ Priest's Hole." Here, too, are the "Giant's Head," and "The Riggin," and many beautiful and fantastic arches, the wonderful works of the sea

The Castle of Dunluce.

175

gods, of course, which would feign baffle the science of modern engineers to form a counterpart. All these points should be examined by the tourist possessed of leisure, and especially by such as enjoy the pleasure of boating, for many of the best views of this locality are to be obtained from the sea.

Dunluce.

We now approach a strongly projecting and nearly isolated headland, the sides of which are truly precipitous, except on the face fronting the land. Its upper surface exhibits what at first sight suggests the idea of a perfect maze of walls, gables, chimneys, towers, battlements, and curtains; all are grey, and present what may be styled a moulting appearance-the venerable works dropping their stones, as does a bird its feathers, in the seasons when Nature orderi a change of dress. To the archæologist it is at once evident that the structures here so singularly grouped together are not all of the same date. Some of the larger circular towers would seem to belong to the style usually denominated "Norman," while the chimney shafts, gables, and opes of the less striking buildings clearly indicate sixteenth century, or even later, work. The date of the erection of this once formidable stronghold is not known to history. The name Dunluce (in Irish Dunlios) simply signifies strong lis, or fort; and, as observed by Dr. Joyce, "this name shows that the rock on which the castle ruins stand was in old times occupied by a fortified lis." Dunluce was long the principal residence of the clan M'Quillan, of which family a famous chieftain, described as brave, hospitable, and improvident, was careless enough to allow the Scots of his neighbourhood so to increase in strength that at length they were able to oust him and his family from their castle and lands. Subsequently Sorley Boy MacDonnell, an adventurous Scot, made himself master of the place; from which he was, in his turn, expelled by Sir John Perrot, the English Lord Deputy. Perrot then handed over the castle to Sir Peter Carey, whom he considered to be a good man and true, and well fitted to be its governor in the interest of Queen Elizabeth. Sir Peter, however, was a traitor, and was scheming to secure the castle and its surroundings for himself and friends, when two of his garrison, confederating with the lately expelled MacDonnell, one night drew up fifty of the followers of that enterprising chieftain, who, on surprising the fortress, slew the governor and a number of his companions. This was in 1585. The Lord Deputy thereupon despatched an officer named Merriman to retake the castle. The result was the slaying of two sons of James MacDonnell, and Alex

ander, the son of the already-mentioned Sorley Boy. The latter was so harassed by the vigorous investments of Merriman that, after severe losses of various kinds, he was induced to surrender. He is next heard of as having repaired to Dublin, where his submission was accepted by the English Government. Subsequently, on condition of good behaviour, and payment to the Crown of a certain tribute of cattle and hawks, Sorley was reinstated in his possession and appointed to the custody of Dunluce Castle. The family of MacDonnell was

afterwards ennobled by the title of Earl of Antrim, its second title being Viscount Dunluce.

Within the rock upon which the castle now stands there is a very spacious natural cavern, a visit to which should be made by all tourists to the Antrim coast, and especially by those possessed of geological tastes. A very striking view of the castle, and of the rock upon which it is perched, may be had from the shore almost immediately beneath. *Hereby hangs a tale, which many years ago used to be told in the vicinity. The cavern above alluded to would appear to have been underneath the castle kitchen, as