Dublin.
_Idol Worship._--The islands of Inniskea, on the north-west coast of
Ireland, are said to be inhabited by a population of about four hundred
human beings, who speak the Irish language, and retain among them a
trace of that government by chiefs which in former times existed in
Ireland. The present chief or king of Inniskea is an intelligent
peasant, whose authority is universally acknowledged, and the settlement
of all disputes is referred to his decision. Occasionally they have been
visited by wandering schoolmasters, but so short and casual have such
visits been, that there are not ten individuals who even know the
letters of any language. Though nominally Roman Catholics, these
islanders have no priest resident among them, and their worship consists
in occasional meetings at their chief's house, with visits to a holy
well. Here the absence of religion is filled with the open practice of
pagan idolatry; for in the south island a stone idol, called in the
Irish _Neevougi_, has been from time immemorial religiously preserved
and worshipped. This god, in appearance, resembles a thick roll of
homespun flannel, which arises from a custom of dedicating a material of
their dress to it whenever its aid is sought: this is sewed on by an old
woman, its priestess, whose peculiar care it is. They pray to it in time
of sickness. It is invoked when a storm is desired to dash some helpless
ship upon the coast; and, again, the exercise of its power is solicited
in calming the angry waves to admit of fishing.
Such is a brief outline of these islanders and their god; but of the
early history of this idol no authentic information has yet been
obtained. Can any of your numerous readers furnish an account of it?