JUNE. 219 



Onward by the side of the stream through dense 

 thickets and hemmed in by gloomy heights we pro- 

 gressed to the Upper Hepste Falls, here the waters 

 of the Hepste gathering the mountain streams toge- 

 ther, plunge over the slate rocks with loud acclaim 

 into profound woody ravines deepened by the wear 

 and tear of ages. The water here precipitates itself 

 in five divisions of beauty-columns, which, however, 

 superficially unite in one showery mass of chrystal 

 spangles, dashing with eternal motion, like the joys of 

 life, down the slippery rock that vainly offers to detain 

 them within its intricate crannies gleaming for a 

 moment in iridescent lustre, till the instantly succeed- 

 ing leap, reverberated by the rocks around, records 

 their passage into the sullen shadows that for ever 

 conceal them from view. Ere we left the spot a sun- 

 set radiance broke finely upon the hurrying waters. 



Many moisture loving plants adorn the wet rocks 

 about the Hepste water-fall and their vicinity, among 

 which, not the least beautiful, is the bright green 

 Asplenium viride, and the palm-like Wood Horsetail 

 (Equisetwm, sylvaticum). On the lofty rock called 

 Craig-y-dinas, farther down the glyn and near Pont- 

 nedd-vechan, overlooking a deep dingle half choaked 

 up with shapeless masses of stone, a considerable 

 quantity of Arabis liirsuta grows, and on the summit 

 among the broken remains of a Druidical circle the 

 little fern Cistopteris dentata, growing very stiff, and 

 covered with sori. 



The next morning we walked over the Banwen 

 Mountain to Pont Henrhyd, passing in our way an 

 extensive bog called Gors Lwm, beautifully adorned 

 with Orchis latifolia finer than usual, prettily sprink- 



