"
The mournful poetry of this simple narrative must touch every heart.
Ass and horse flesh were anxiously sought for, even when the animals
died of disease or starvation. In the middle of January it was recorded
that a horse belonging to a man near Claremorris, having died, was
flayed, and the carcass left for dogs and birds to feed upon; but, says
the narrative, before much of it was consumed, it was discovered by a
poor family (whose name and residence are given), and by them used as
food. Father, mother and six children prolonged life for a week upon
this disgusting carrion, and even regretted the loss of it, when the
supply failed; and the poor mother said to the person who made the fact
public, "the Lord only knows what I will now do for my starving
children, since it is gone!" A fortnight earlier a most circumstantial
account of the eating of ass flesh is given by a commercial gentleman in
a letter addressed to the Premier, Lord John Russell, and dated
"Ballina, Christmas-eve." (!) In this case the poor man killed his ass
for food, the skin being sold to a skin dealer for 8d. The writer of the
letter visited the skin dealer's house, in order to make sure of the
fact.
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