186 



LUNDY ISLAND. 



This island is four leagues north-west of Clo- 

 velly, is rather more than three miles long, and 

 about one in breadth. It contains about 2,000 

 acres; and is environed by high and steep rocks, 

 which render it inaccessible, except in one or two 

 places. The only sale landing-place is on the east 

 side, where a small beach admits a secure approach, 

 and is sheltered by a detached portion of rock, called 

 the Isle of Rats, On landing, the visitor is obliged 

 to climb over various cragiry masses, before he can 

 reach the steep and winding tract that leads to the 

 summit, which commands good views of the English 

 and Welsh coasts. 



About fouY hundred acres only are in cultivation ; 

 300 of which are arable, and the rest pasture : wheat 

 is the chief produce. The elevated situation of the 

 land, in some places 800 feet above the sea, and 

 the violence of the north-east winds, prevent any 

 trees from growing here, though a considerable sum 

 was expended a few years ago in plantnig. Rab- 

 bits, though not of the best quality, are numerous, 

 yet by no means so abundant as formerly, the rats 

 having destroyed great quantities. Muirs, and the 

 usual rock-birds, are very plentiful ; and in the sea- 

 son, lobsters, crabs, mackerel, and other fish, may 

 be obtained in abundance ; woodcocks and starlings 

 also resort hither in great numbers ; and about 400 

 head of sheep, and 80 head of cattle, are fed here ; 

 but the former do not thrive. The inclosures are 

 stone fences. 



This island was probably more populous than at 

 present, as many human bones have been ploughed 

 up; "and the furrows," says Camden, "show it to 

 have been once cultivated." Its present cultivation 

 was wholly effected during the last century. Of its 

 history very little is known : Risdon relates, that 

 one Morisco, who had conspired to kill Henry the 

 third, at Woodstock, retaed to this isle, and, by 



