The Apparitions and Miracles at Knock; also, the Official Depositions of the Eye-witnesses

the Irish people. If one stands on the tower of the small
church, and views the country around, he will see these eleva
tions arise around him like huge billows in a deep and bois
terous sea. Looking, for instance, to the south-west, he
beholds Cnoc-ban, or fair hill ; and to the north, " druim,"
i. e., a ridge, an elevated slope ; and to the south-east, the
wild and bleak mountain-land, called " sliabh na mbreith-
eamh," or the mountain district of the judges. The village,
which rests embosomed amidst these elevations, is very
appropriately called " Knock," because, like Hebron, it is
in the heart of a hilly country. The view of the region sur
rounding Knock is not at all inviting ; the country district is
bare of trees. To strangers coming from England or France,
the region is like one through which a desolating army has
passed, no sign of trees or of comfortable farmsteads is to
be seen ; no rich cultivated meadows or fertile agricultural
or even well-tilled tracts. The view to the east and west, as
one approaches the village from the south, is bleak and un
inviting in the extreme, presenting here and there patches of
cultivated farms, and for the rest nothing but bog-land,
marshes, or badly-tilled upland potato or corn fields.
A second Lourdes.
A wonderful centre of religious excitement, and a great
incentive to faith, has suddenly started into form and favour
in South Mayo. For the past twelve months the west of
Ireland has been the trysting-place of all who have laboured
for the improvement of the condition of the small farmers
living on Irish soil. The eyes of all in England, and of
friends and foes to the cause of the people at home and
abroad, have been turned to the west of Ireland. It is there
a flame of political and social excitement has been fanned
which is spreading at present all over the entire land, em