It is usual in several parts of North Wales, for the nearest female relation to the deceased, be she widow, mother, sister, or daughter, to pay some poor person, of the same sex, and nearly of the same age with the deceased, for procuring slips of yew, box, and other evergreens, to strew over and ornament the grave for some weeks after interment; and in some instances for weeding and adorning it, on the eves of Easter, Whitsuntide, and the other great festivals, for a year or two afterwards. This gift is called Diodlys, and it is made on a plate at the door of the house, where at the same time the body is standing on a bier. It had its name from the custom, which is now discontinued, of the female relative giving to the person a piece of cheese with the money stuck in it, some white bread, and afterwards a cup of ale. When this previous ceremony is over, the clergyman, or, in his absence, the parish clerk, repeats the Lord's prayer; after which they proceed with the body to the church. Four of the next of kin take the bier upon their shoulders; a custom which is considered as expressive of the highest mark that even filial piety can pay to the deceased. If the distance from the house to the church be considerable, they are relieved by some of the congregation; but they always take it again before they arrive at the church.-I have been informed that in some parts of the country it is usual to set the bier down at every cross-way, and again when they enter the church-yard, and at each of these places to repeat the Lord's prayer.

In some parts of Wales it was formerly

customary for the friends of the dead to kneel on the grave, and there to say the Lord's prayer for several Sundays subsequent to the interment, and then to dress the grave with flowers.-It was also reckoned fortunate for the deceased if a shower of rain came on while they were carrying the body to church, that his coffin might be moistened with the tears of heaven.

I have observed that in most parts of North Wales, the same practice prevails which is common in England, of crowding all the bodies into that part of the church-yard which is south of the church. The only reason that I have heard the Welsh people give for this custom is, that the north is the wrong side. The true reason, however, is, that formerly it was customary for persons, on entering a church-yard, and seeing the grave of a friend or acquaintance, to put up to heaven a prayer for the peace of his soul; and since the entrances to churches were usually either on the west or south side, those persons who were interred on the north escaped the common notice of their friends, and thereby lost the benefit of their prayers. Thus the north side becoming a kind of refuse spot, only paupers, still-born infants, or persons guilty of some crime, were buried there.*

In Mr. Pratt's Gleanings through Wales, I observe a charmingly animated description of the neatness and elegance of the Welsh churchyards, and of the attention that is bestowed by the surviving relatives, to the graves of their kindred but I am sorry to say, if this gentleman has stated facts, that the custom is not

*Grose's Olio, 222.

general, as he has asserted: it must be completely local. During the seven months that I spent in visiting and examining North Wales, I never saw, nor could I ever hear, of an instance of the graves being weeded every Saturday; "of their being every week planted with the choicest flowers of the season," or that, if a nettle or weed were seen on the Sunday morning, the living party to whom the grave belonged, "would be hooted, after divine ser vice, by the whole congregation."

SHORT DIRECTIONS

FOR THE

TOURIST

THROUGH

NORTH WALES,

IN THE ROUTE OF THE PRECEDING TOUR.

At the inns marked with an asterisk*, post-chaises and horses are kept.

THE DISTANCE FROM CHESTER TO CAERNARVON, ALONG THE USUAL ROAD, (NOT GOING BY FLINT,) IS ABOUT 72 MILES.

Ar Chester the tourist may find it worth his while to visit and examine the castle and walls, with the courts of justice, the cathedral, St. John's church, and the rows. If he be an antiquary, he will derive entertainment from examining the remains of the hypocaust, near the Feathers inn; and some other relics of antiquity in the neighbourhood.