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On either side of the great ranges of mountains before us rise these 

 numerous rivers. The " Ebwth," " Srwy," " Eemny," the Taffe "as gray as any 

 glasse,"the sweet " Malta," "the cleer Hepsey," "the nimble Neath," and the 

 Tawe flow from them southwardly through Morgany, or Glamorganshire. In 

 the centre of the county is the "sprightly TLske," with her attendant hand- 

 maids, Crai, Senni, Cilieni, "Camlas," " the tripping Hreane," laker, " Hodny 

 fine and cleere," Cynrig, T.nell, Mehasciu, Cavanell, Crawnon, Khiangoll, 

 Onney, "the Grony" and " Cledaugh." The Carmarthenshire Towy, with its 

 tributaries, the Sawdde and Gwy.klerig drain the extreme western end. 

 Northward, on the boundless waste of Drygarn, the Irvon, Wye'a finest 

 tributary, rises, and on the slopes of Epynt, and near the height of Penygorllwyn 

 many of its affluent streams. • For nearly forty milts of its course the Wye 

 itself is the boundary of the county. Eastwaul we have the Llyfni, and ho 

 tributaries, the Dulas, the Enig aud the Frwd, ar:d on the farther side of the 

 range of Black Mountain rises the Honddu. All these last named streams 

 hasten their course to the fertile fields of Hereford and Monmouth, or the 

 land of Gwent. There would be little difficulty in finding within the county 

 representatives of Prince Brechan's daughters, for there is no other county in 

 England or Wales that has so great a number of rivers and brooks in proportion 

 to its size. 



Turning first to the eastward, and looking across the Lake of Llangorse, 

 we see the great frontier mountains of Breconshire, the Black Mountains of 

 Talgarth and Ewyas. These mountains derive their sombre title from the deep 

 shadows, which the passing clouds throw across their giant sides ; they embrace 

 the parishes of Talgarth, Llanelicu, and Llanigon, and several of their out- 

 lying ribs stretch far into the pleasant valleys of Monmouthshire and Hereford- 

 shire. On our extreme left, and constituting the chief feature of the view 

 from the lake is Mynydd Troed, thus called, since it can only be ascended on 

 foot. The most elevated point of this range of mountain, rising between the 

 double head of " Grony," is called Y Gadair, and excepting the Brecon Van 

 is the highest mountain in South Wales. The Brecon Van can boast of being 

 Arthur's Chair, but thou : — 



" Magnificent Gader ! it is lost to story, 

 Who of the famed colossal chiefs of old 

 Upon thy mountain summit loved to hold 

 His throne, seated apart in mystic glory. 

 The gray mist round him wreathed a mantle hoary." 



The Gader can be seen from nearly all parts of Herefordshire, and often when 

 looking at its flat head, thrust, as it were, above the adjacent mountains, 



" I do feast upon thee with mine eyes, 

 Though hard at first amid that lengthened chain 

 To find, when found, thy sovereignty how plain ! 

 Thou art there amidst the sil?nt skies." 



The Black Mountains are now a valuable and peaceful sheep walk for 

 neighbouring farmers. Time was when they were valued by the Welsh, and 

 subsequently by the English, as barriers to their foes. Except by the gorges of 



