SEPTEMBEE. 375 



So lonesome, and so perfectly secure. 

 * * * 



In rugged arms how soft it seems to lie, 

 How tenderly protected ! Far and near 

 We have an image of the pristine earth, 

 The planet in its nakedness ; were this 

 Man's only dwelling, sole appointed seat, 

 First, last, and single in the breathing world, 

 It could not be more quiet." 



Farther up the mountain we came upon masses of 

 Bilberry bushes (Vaccinium myrtillus), whose purple 

 acid fruit we found peculiarly grateful, and the very 

 summit was adorned with the beautiful blushing fruit 

 of the Cowberry (Vaccinium Vitis-idcea), whose ever- 

 green box-like leaves always present a refreshing 

 aspect. Hence a rugged and desolate brotherhood of 

 flat-topped eminences rise to view, ridge beyond ridge, 

 among which Mynydd-y-Cader, or the Chair Moun- 

 tain, rises conspicuous with its two crowning cairns, 

 and the lofty crest of the Talgarth Beacon, in sombre 

 gloom, lifts its head above the other dark-browed 

 heights. This sullen hill is almost always shrouded 

 in clouds, its sides stony and barren, and its summit 

 shaggy with heath, cowberries, and whortleberries. 

 The lowering clouds rarely allow much prospect of 

 the surrounding country, and what is seen partakes 

 too much of surly austerity and gloomy rudeness to 

 be contemplated with much pleasure or delight. 

 There is indeed a solitary grandeur in the scene, but 

 the perpetual shadow of blackened clouds makes it 

 rather appalling, and gives a melancholy tinge to the 

 feelings ; and the wanderer retires with impressions 

 similar to those with which he would leave a robber's 

 cave he is thankful to escape unmolested ; but hardly 

 certain of his safety, he pauses not to look round till 



