159 



attempt to unravel the mysteries of the past as presented at Cwm-yoy for the 

 edification of the student of nature. It may perhaps be disappointing to a 

 palaeontologist to spend a whole day, and succeed only in finding what he imagines 

 to be indications of a ripple-mark, or traces of a raindrop fixed in stone, but to 

 the physical gecilo^ist it is plain enough, that the Black Mountains, with their 

 parallel ranges, their Cwms and Glyns, and numerous streams, present a field 

 which would well compensate him for a minute and careful investigation. 



On leaving the scene of desolation for the village of Cwm-yoy, it seemed quite 

 in character that nothing but bare walls remained of the first house we came to, 

 and indeed a further inspection would almost lead one to suppose that a gradual 

 slipping of all the village was taking place, the houses and walls were so full of 

 cracks and some of them so tumbledown-looking. The solid square tower of the 

 church seemed a little out of the perpendicular, and its roof was unmistakably 

 shaky. Any elaborate architecture could scarcely be looked for in a parish so 

 remote in olden times from the mother church, the distant Menevia, which looks 

 over the billows of the Atlantic. Before the age of railways, telegraphs, and tele- 

 phones, episcopal authority must have been exercised with difficulty from St. 

 David's to take much effect in the Black Mountains, and conversely, a double 

 visit from a Cwm-yoy devotee to the shrine ef the Cambrian Saint might well 

 have earned him the traditional credit of a journey to Rome. Traces of Norman 

 work were visible here and there, somewhat obscured by age, and plaster, and 

 high pews. Some curious slabs in the porch puzzled some ecclesiologiats present, 

 and some doubts were expressed as to whether they originally belonged to the 

 church, or were removed there. The steps to the rood loft were in excellent pre- 

 servation, though all traces of the loft itself had disappeared. A Hebrew Bible of 

 the 17th century, minutely annotated by hand, testilied to the erudition and in- 

 dustry of an incumbent. The rules relating to the duties of the churchwardens 

 were also framed and hung up on the walls, so that the consciences of those good 

 men must be tried, if anything that may be required to be done there is left un- 

 done. If any archidiaconal eye should fall upon them their dismay might be 

 great, and they could make no answer. 



Two epitaphs, amongst other curious ones, merit notice for their quaintness— 



one dated 1682— 



"Thomas Price, he took his nap 

 In our common mother's lap ; 

 Waiting to hear the trumpet say 

 Ay ! wake, my dear, and come away." 



and a second reads thus — 



" Now all you folks who comes by we 

 Remember your eternity : 

 Return you shall to mother earth. 

 Be quick then all ! prepare for death." 



The font seems as old as the oldest part of the church, but neither this nor 

 the bells could be examined, for the peremptory summons of the leader was heard, 

 and there was nothing for it but to obey. 



