OCTOBEE. 445 



packet of vesture next ventured on a forward move- 

 ment to his irrepressible chagrin, and last of all we fell 

 also for down tumbled one of our horses as if shot, 

 and in a moment we were all hurried sans ceremonie 

 into the dusty road, to advance or retrograde as we 

 thought proper. Ultimately we shook off the mail 

 that had so unkindly shaken off us, and walked 

 through the majestic pass of Pont Aberglasslyn ; and 

 after refreshing at the Beddgelert Hotel, I engaged a 

 car to convey me to Llanberis, where I proposed my 

 unfortunate companion should accompany me, and 

 forget his sorrows ; but inconsolable for his broken 

 spectacles, which he said ruined all his prospects, 

 he would go no farther than the turn to Capel Cerig ; 

 and, as BUJSTAN says, " I saw him no more." 



As I progressed down the pass of Llanberis, the 

 evening suddenly closed in, the wind moaned cheer- 

 lessly in fitful gusts, and Snowdon and his satellites 

 put on their darkest array nevertheless I determined 

 to ascend the next morning if possible. Over my tea 

 and snug fire at the Dolbadran Castle* (which by the 



* Dolbadran Castle itself is a ruined fortalice, of which a shattered 

 round tower now only remains, situated on a rocky eminence, between 

 the Upper and Lower Lakes of Llanberis, and its grey head encompassed 

 with lofty mountains, is reflected in the clear waters with pictorial effect. 

 In the Upper Lake Lobelia Dortmanna, Sparganium natans, Subularia 

 aquatica, and lioetes lacustris grow ; in and about the Lower Lake, 

 Nympheea alba, Alisma natans, Epilobium angust\folium, and Trollius 

 europceus. I did not examine the woods above, where probably several 

 rarities may be found, as a specimen of Epipactis ensifolia was given me 

 by my botanical guide hereafter mentioned, gathered there by him. The 

 intermittent roar from the explosions in the slate quarries seen from this 

 point, comes with fine effect upon the ear, like so many avalanches among 

 the mountains. Very near to and sadly eclipsing the ruined tower of 

 Dolbadran, an immense pile of building called " the Victoria," has been 

 erected of late years for the accommodation of visitors. I would, how- 

 ever, advise the Botanical Explorator to do as I did, and attack " the 

 Castle," although the smiling widow is a widow no longer. 



