Ireland/Irish > Black's guide to Killarney and the south of Ireland

O’SULLIVAN’S CASCADE.
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On the day preceding the hunt, those preparations are made which are
thought best calculated to ensure a happy issue. An experienced person is sent
up the mountain to search for the herd, and watch its motions in patient silence
till night comes on. The deer which remains aloof from the herd is selected
for the next day’s sport. The deer, upon being roused, generally endeavours to
gain the summit of the mountain, that he may the more readily make his escape
across the open heath to some distant retreat. To prevent this, numbers of
people are stationed at intervals along the heights, who by loud shouting terrify
the animal, and drive him towards the lake. I was once gratified by seeing a
deer run for nearly a mile along the shore, with the hounds pursuing him in
full cry. On finding himself closely pressed, he leapt boldly from a rock into
the lake, and swam towards one of the islands; but, terrified by the approach of
the boats, he returned, and once more sought for safety on the main shore.
Soon afterwards, in a desperate effort to leap across a chasm between two rocks,
his strength failed him, and he fell exhausted to the bottom. It was most
interestins- to behold the numerous spectators who hastened to the spot. Ladies,
gentlemen, peasants, hunters, combined in various groups around the noble
victim as he lay extended in the depth of the forest. The stag, as is usual on
such occasions, was preserved from death.
The rare fern Trichomanes spedosum is found in the wood.
Pursuing our course on the lake, we pass one or two little
islets and rocks on our way to “ Sweet Innisfallen,” but if time
permits, it would be well to keep the course of the shore to
O’SULLIVAN’S CASCADE. Landing in a little bay at
the foot of the Tomies, and following a rugged pathway through
the thick forest, we hear from time to time the dashing of the
water down its precipitous channel, until we at last reach the
waterfall. “ The cascade,” writes Wright, “ consists of three
distinct falls; the uppermost, passing over a ridge of rock, falls
about twenty feet perpendicularly into a natural basin beneath,
then making its way between two hanging rocks, the torrent
hastens down a second precipice, into a similar receptacle,
from which second depository, concealed from the view, it rolls
over into the lowest chamber of the fall. Beneath a project¬
ing rock, overhanging the lowest basin, is a grotto, with a seat
rudely cut in the rock. From this little grotto the view of the
cascade is peculiarly beautiful and interesting. It appears a
continued flight of three unequally elevated foamy stages. The
recess is encompassed by rocks, and overshadowed by an arch
of foliage, so thick as to interrupt the admission of light.”
INNISFALLEN ISLAND, about half way between the
east and west shores of the lake, is interesting on account of