. 38 



Some fresh arrivals were greeted at the Ferry, and the hoats were again 

 taken for the descent of the river. A canoe, well and cleverly bandied, was in 

 attendance, and as the string of boats followed each other round the curves 

 of the river the effect was exceedingly pretty ; the gay dresses of the ladies, 

 the sound of cheerful voices, and the splashing of the oars, gave life and anima- 

 tion to the natural beauty of the river. 



As true chroniclers of the proceedings, it behoves us to state that small 



baskets made their appearance from secret places about tins time, greatly to 



the satisfaction of the travellers, — 



" For all must know romantic scenes will clog, 

 Without the aid of perishable prog." 



There was one boat casualty in the day's experience. A small boat rather heavi'y 



laden had passed Goodrich Castle without stopping and got well ahead, but on 



one of the rapids it took too short a cut, got aground, and had the mortification 



to be passed by every boat in the long string, before it could get afloat again. 



The views of Goodrich are not so fine to look back upon, but the Gothic 

 win lows of Flauesford Priory, now a barn, made some of the antiquarians 

 anxious to visit them. It might not be, for the journey was long, and the river 

 scenery the grand object of the day. 



The lights and shadows on the hills were very fine as they closed in more 

 upon the river and became more steep. Now a dash of crimson was thrown in 

 as the sun shone over a field of poppies, and now the smoke from a half-hidden 

 cottage or a limekiln added picturesque features to the landscape. A flock of 

 lapwings flew round the boats at one place, uttering the sweet musical notes 

 of the young birds, and here and there the leading boat caught the bright blue 

 flash of colour on the water from the kingfisher as he flew straight out of 

 Bight. 



About a mile below Kerne bridge a stoppage was made to visit the tunnel 

 for the railway now in course of construction between Ross and Monmouth. It 

 passes through the Coppet Wood Hill, and by the politeness of G. E. W. 

 Wellesley, Esq., a man had been sent down to open it for any ladies or gentlemen 

 who might wish to visit it. The navvy appeared in due course and costume, 

 with a buudlo. of candles, and lighted one for every visitor who entered. Many 

 did so, and found themselves in a passage boarded up on all sides dark, and 

 damp, and cold. At first the candles only made its darkness the more intense, 

 but by degrees as the eye accommodated itself to the gloom, a hunt for funguses 

 beg«n. Several Polypores were quickly found growing on the timber and 

 boarding, a very pretty Mycena, and a fragile Coprinus, too delicate to exist long 

 enough in the dry air outside for their exact names to be determined. From the 

 boards forming the roof curious moss-like masses of Mycelium hung down. It 

 was too dangerous to remain long, and the boats were soon regained in the 

 warm air outside. 



The beautiful course of the river by Eishopswood, Iluardean, and Lidbrook, 

 were then pleasantly passed, when a bend in the river brings very prominently 



