74 WANDERINGS AND PONDERINGS 



Mynach flows to its falls, and the daring character of the 

 enterprise which united two such fearful precipices with a 

 bridge, were likely to give I'ise, during the earlier ages of 

 superstition, to tales of the supernatural. The earlier struc- 

 ture was therefore attributed by common consent to his satanic 

 majesty, and is universally known by his name. The current 

 legend on this matter I shall subjoin, as one of those pleasant 

 records which illustrate the views of our forefathers. The 

 upper bridge was built in 1753. While looking from this 

 bridge into the chasm, a guide approached us, and conducted 

 us to the river, both above and below the bridge ; he also 

 took us to the foot of each of the falls, and described their 

 height, &c. The river under the bridges is comparatively still, 

 and very deep. We had no means of fathoming the depth, 

 but the sound of stones thrown in indicates a much greater 

 depth than one would be led to expect from the rapidity of 

 the river's course, and its generally small volume of water. — But 

 now to the legend. 



€l}c SBuittifng of tfje SBciDae* 



Once on a time an old woman had a favourite black cow, 

 that fed quietly all day and all night on the Cwm Toidder moun- 

 tains, and came home every morning and every evening to her 

 mistress to be milked. Now it happened one evening that the 

 cow came not home ; so the old woman was much troubled, 

 and she waited and waited, but no cow came. Seeing the 

 cow would not come home of herself, the old lady went out to 

 fetch her, and walked up the mountain and down the mountain, 

 till she came to the place where Mynach flows between two 

 high rocks, and there she saw her cow on the other side 

 of the river. Thereupon she set up a loud lamentation and 

 howling, for she knew that the cow could not come to her, 

 and that she could not go to the cow. There was no way of 

 crossing the river, and it was a day's journey to go round 

 about. In this strait the devil appeared to her. " So ! so !" 

 says the devil, "you've lost your cow, old lady, have you? 

 Well, never mind, I'll build you a bridge over the river, 

 and you shall go across it and fetch your cow, if you like." 

 "Thankee, sir," said the old woman; "thankee kindly, sir! 

 I'll be much obliged to you if you will ;" and she curtsied very 



