364 A Winter in Cornwall. [Sess. 
into dust centuries ago. It consists of upright stones, varying in 
height in different localities, with a huge block laid flat on the 
top. How these were put in position I do not profess to know, 
but that they were erected by the hand of man is evident, their 
construction being quite different from those wonderful freaks 
of nature such as the Cheesewring, &c., to be noticed immedi- 
ately. One of the largest and finest of these cromlechs is 
what is called “The Trevethy Stones,” near Liskeard (Plate 
XXXIII.); but what perhaps exemplifies their construction 
more aptly, though on a smaller scale, is the famous “ Lanyon 
Quoit,” about five miles from Penzance (Plate XXXIV.), and 
the almost equally famous “Chun Quoit,” also near Penzance 
(Plate XXXV.) In the same neighbourhood as the Lanyon 
cromlech are other two objects of great interest. One is the 
“Men Scryfa” or inscribed stone, bearing a set of deeply cut 
letters which a little trouble can decipher; and the second 
is the “ Men-an-tol” or Crickstone (Plate XXXVI.), the most 
bizarre curiosity in the county, so far as came under my per- 
sonal observation. The Crickstone proper is a large round 
stone shaped like a ring, about three to three and a half feet 
in diameter, standing on end, and containing in the centre a 
circular hole about a foot and a half wide. On each side, 
roughly about eight feet off, are two upright masses rising 
about three feet from the ground. What this strange relic of 
the past was originally intended to represent is hard to say, 
but in later days a use was found for the Crickstone itself. 
The superstitious believed that certain diseases could be cured 
by thrusting the unfortunate patient through the hole. This 
operation may have worked well enough if the person operated 
upon was thin in body; but when the obese had to be dealt 
with, the wretched victim was usually sent to his or her long 
home during the process. On the top of the hill near by are 
the ruins of the famous Ding-Dong mine already mentioned. 
The British circular camp is a familiar object, and, just as 
in Scotland, is here found on the summit of an eminence. 
Probably the best example is the Castle-an-Dinas, a few miles 
from Penzance, which is about 86 yards in diameter; but 
another very good one is Chun Castle, and this measured 
about 50 yards across. Mention may also be made of Castle 
Dore, near Fowey, a good specimen, but woefully spoilt by 
