THE CROMLECH.

This stone is of some thousand tons weight, and many times larger than the celebrated mass of rock in Borrowdale, called Bowdar Stone. It lies in a place called Ynys Hettws, Hetty's Island; and two of its sides meeting at an angle with the ground, it was used as the habitation of an old woman, who, in summer, resided in the vale to tend and milk her cows. The inclosures are yet nearly entire, and are at present used as a sheepfold.

once

Not far from this stone, on the opposite side of the stream, is the cottage of Caddy of Cwm Glâs, the female whom I mentioned a few pages back. There is, at a little distance from the cottage, another immense mass of rock insulated like the former.

GORPHWYSFA,

The resting Place, is an eminence, four miles from Llanberis, that overlooks a considerable part of this vale. It also commands a view into the mountain vale, that joins Nan Hwynan, and the vale Capel Curig.

From hence I returned to Caernarvon.

The tourist, if he chooses it, may, from this place, proceed onwards nearly in a direct

M

line, through the village of Capel Curig, to Llanrwst; or adopting another route, may keep the right-hand path, which will lead him through the vale, called Nan Hwynan, to Beddgelert. From Beddgelert, he may either return to Caernarvon or continue his journey, in a direction towards Dolgelle, or Bala.

163

CHAP. XIV.

EXCURSION FROM CAERNARVON TO THE
SUMMIT OF SNOWDON.

Instructions to the Tourist.-Clogwyn du'r Arddu.-Dangerous Adventure.-Height of Snowdon-Prospect from the Summit.-Name.-Royal Forest.-Clogwyn y Garnedd. -List of Snowdon Plants.-Well near the Summit.-Snowdon Copper Mine.-Uncommon Snow_Drift.-Accidents that have happened to the Workmen.-Further Intructions

to the Tourist.

THE distance of the summit of Snowdon from Caernarvon is somewhat more than ten miles; and from Dolbadarn castle, in the vale of Llanberis, the ascent is so gradual, that a person,. mounted on a little Welsh poney, may ride up very nearly to the top.

From Dolbadarn castle the traveller must go, by the waterfall, Caunant Mawr, to Cwm Brwynog, The rushy Hollow. He must proceed up this vale, and then along the ridge immediately over the vale of Llanberis, till he comes within sight of a black, and almost perpendicular rock, with a small lake at its foot, called Clogwyn du'r Arddu, The Black Precipice. This he is to leave about a quarter of a mile on his right, and then ascending a

steep called Llechwedd y Rè, The rapid Descent, must direct his course south-west to the well, (a place sufficiently known to the guides,) from whence he will find it about a mile to the highest peak of the mountain.

In my first journey I went from the castle to Cwm Brwynog, but, instead of following the above route, I wandered to Clogwyn du'r Arddu, to search that rock for some plants which Lhwyd and Ray have described as growing there. The Reverend Mr. Williams accompanied me, and he started the wild idea of attempting to climb the precipice. I was too eager in my pursuit to object to the adventure, and we began our laborious task without once reflecting on the dangers that might attend it. For a little while we got on without much difficulty, but we were soon obliged to have recourse both to our hands and knees, in clambering from one crag to another. Every step now required the utmost caution, and it was necessary to try that every stone was firm in its place before the weight of the body was trusted upon it. I had once lain hold of a piece of the rock, and was in the act of raising myself upon it, when it loosened from its bed, and I should have been precipitated headlong, had I not in a moment snatched hold of a tuft of rushes, and saved myself. When we had ascended somewhat more than half-way, there seemed no chance of our being able to proceed much farther, on account of the increasing size of the masses of rock above us. We rested a moment from our labour to consider what was to be done. The danger of descending was much too great for us to think of attempt

ing it, unless we found it absolutely impossible to proceed. On looking down, the precipice, for at least three hundred feet, seemed almost perpendicular. We were eager in our botanical pursuit, and extremely desirous to be at the top, but I believe it was the prospect downwards that determined us to brave every difficulty. It happened fortunately that the steep immediately above us was the only one that presented any material danger. Mr. Williams having on a pair of strong shoes with nails in them, which would hold their footing better than mine, requested to make the first attempt, and after some difficulty he succeeded. We had along with us a small basket to contain our provisions, and hold the roots of such plants as we wished to transfer to his garden; this he carried behind him by means of a leathern belt fastened round his waist. When, therefore, he had fixed himself securely to a part of the rock, he took off his belt, and holding firmly by one end, gave the other to me: I laid hold, and, with a little aid from the stones, fairly pulled myself up by it. After this we got on pretty well, and in about an hour and a quarter from the commencement of our labour, found ourselves on the brow of this dreadful precipice, and in possession of all the plants we expected to find.

It would be difficult to describe my sensations when my companion pointed out to me the summit of Snowdon at the distance of only about a mile and a half from us, and, from its great elevation, appearing scarcely more than half a mile. The sight was so unexpectedly agreeable, that I proceeded from hence to the