FALLS ON BAIN IN CUMBERLAND. 



203 



over Sty-head, as Seathwaite is favourably placed to receive 

 much of the rain brought by that wind ; but other winds 

 blow in this district during a large portion of the year, and 

 as much more rain falls at Seathwaite than in any other 

 part, these other winds must, we presume, also bring rain 

 to that place. To see how this is effected, we have to 

 examine the shape of the neighbouring country, and par- 

 ticularly in the directions from which rainy winds come; 

 and we may perhaps obtain a tolerably good idea of what 

 that shape is from an account given in Hudson's Guide to 

 the Lakes. In this work, page 118, it is said, "I know 

 not how to give the reader a distinct image of the main 

 outlines of the country, more readily than by requesting 

 him to place himself with me in imagination upon some 

 given point, let it be the top of either of the mountains, 

 Great Gable or Scaw-fell; or rather, let us suppose our 

 station to be a cloud hanging midway between those two 

 jgnountains, at not more tlian half a mile's distance from the 

 summit of each, and not many yards above their highest 

 elevation, we shall then see strerched at our feet a number 

 of valleys, not fewer than eight, diverging from the point on 

 which we are supposed to stand, like spokes from the nave 

 of a wheel." Now, this imaginary point in the air is nearly 

 over Sty-head Pass. The writer then proceeds to describe 

 Langdale, the Vale of Coniston, the Vale of Duddon, Esk- 

 dale, Wastdale, Ennerdale, and the Vale of Crummock 

 water, and Buttermerc. And he goes on to say, that 

 " such is the general topographical view of the country of 

 the lakes ; and it may be observed that, from the circum- 

 ference to the centre, that is, from the sea or plain country 

 to the mountains specified. Great Gable and Scaw-fell, there 

 is in the several ridges that inclose these vales, and divide 

 them from each other — I mean, in the forms and surfaces- 

 first, of the swelling ground, next, of the hills and rocks, 

 and, lastly, of the mountains — an ascent of almost regular 



