368 HOURS AMONG ROCKS AND CLOUDS. 



considerable accumulations, though rather dangerous to tread upon. Yet when 

 the wind blusters in its fury, it is by no means unpleasant to pause for a few 

 minutes on the leeward side of these wind-shields. The materials of them, 

 being all taken from the rocks around, present a fund from whence the geologist 

 may draw ad libitum, and the numerous fragments of pure white Quartz among 

 them, mark the character of the mountain. 



I can say but little as to the prospect afforded from the peaks of Plinlimmon, 

 on account of the all but perpetual fogs that surround them, and of which I have 

 had the full benefit on every occasion. Ere I could scale one of the ridges at the 

 time I here refer to, a squadron of clouds had occupied them for a review day, 

 . nd they kept the ground so well, that though I squeezed in among them as well 

 as 1 could, it was to little purpose, for it is as hopeless to wait on a mountain top 

 for the clouds to pass off, as to stand in a door-way in London while the crowd 

 goes by ! One single break in the array occurred, however, in one direction, 

 where, far beyond a long-extending rank and file of beaming hills and shining 

 vallies, Craig Breiddin, like a fairy isle, and Moel-y-Golfa, like a distant pyramid, 

 crested the horizon ; — but in no other quarter would the envious clouds disperse, 

 though retreating in thick order to the bases of Cadir Idris and the hills beyond 

 Machynnleth, they showed the intervening country, cumulus upon cumulus 

 shining bright in the rays of the descending sun ; while the vapours revealing the 

 valley of the Lery, and bringing a focus of light upon its bounding promontory, 

 that little river was seen as a winding vein of silver lightning up its emerald glen, 

 and twining its rapid but romantic course to the yellow Sands of the sea. South- 

 ward, among the turbulent mountain indentations that seemed like upreared 

 piles of rapid waves, a few lakes faintly gleamed in the scalloped concavities — 

 all else but the occasionally revealed rocks, and the rhimy Sedges and Heaths, 

 were entirely concealed from view, and father ocean was closely mantled in his 

 misty robe. 



Red Grous inhabit the extensive wilds of this region, though a single one only 

 occurred in the course of this day's perambulation, which was, however, at the 

 close of August, after they had been pretty well attended to by sportsmen. 

 Scarcely any other bird was visible, except a very numerous flock of Golden 

 Plovers (Charadrius pluvialis), near the summit, whistling as they flew round 

 in wide circles ; and an occasional Kestril poising on out-stretched wing. 



Twilight was now rapidly approaching, involving the deep perforations of the 

 mountain, its cwms, and its acclivities in purpureal solemnity. We hastily made 

 our way, therefore, through the plashy bogs, Whin, and Heath, and scrambled 

 down the rocks the shortest way to Blaen Hafren. Here I took a last glance at 

 the infant Severn dashing down the rock into its deep circular basin, and emerging 

 in a playful waterfall, with the Dippers still quivering their plumage there, and 



