SEPTEMBEE, 



397 



in one place obtaining a sight of the Rough Alpine 

 Shield-fern (Aspidiimi Loncliitis), on an inaccessible 

 crag. Midway up the precipices, the little S-formed 

 lake which I now overlooked appeared to advantage, 

 and was contrasted with the long lake of Bala, seen 

 stretching above it in the perspective now momently 

 widening before me. I had some difficulty in reach- 

 ing the summit of the cliffs, and even then had to 

 cross an extensive marshy plateau, among which are 

 several boggy pools with quantities of Cotton-grass, 

 descend a deep hollow, and surmount a rough staircase 

 of quartzose and trappoid rocks piled horridly upon 

 each other, ere I could gain the loftiest peak of Arran 

 Ben Llyn. The view was repaying, for the landscape 

 was nearly clear, no clouds obscured the mountains, 

 and the sun within an hour of his setting finely illu- 

 mined the scene, without the deterioration of any 

 misty glare. Still the air was not entirely transparent, 

 consequently it communicated the deepest and most 

 lovely blues to the distant ridges, so that the entire 

 northern ranges of the Welch Alps appeared as vivid 

 and distinct as if painted in body colours. Eastward, 

 a singular scene appeared the vast tabular masses of 

 the Berwyns were seen in gloomy uniformity, like 

 vast beams, the scaffolding of nature, one behind 

 another, with monstrous hollows between, green or 

 purplish, save where a great bare red place seemed to 

 point out the brand of some desolation of fire or 

 water. To detail the whole objects visible in such a 

 grand panorama as this would be a vain attempt 

 but the northern prospect was the crowning gem of 

 the view. The lake of Bala, in its long extent, flanked 

 by the pointed Arrenigs, were looked upon in front j 



