eo 
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that this word ‘Toot,’ or Tot, was connected with heights generally. 
This may be called the Anglo-Romano theory. 
Some of those who were accustomed to hear similar exercises 
of the imagination to account for the derivation of words were 
content to wait until etymology had asserted its right to stand 
upon some surer scientific basis, and plunged from the discussion 
into the delicious shade of the trees. The Combe with its steep 
northern face of Mountain Limestone, and its easy southern slope 
of the same formation is very like that of Brockly, indeed far 
surpasses it in varied contrast. The same mingling of rocky crag 
and many coloured foliage is common to both in their lower parts, 
but Brockly lacks the fine upward prolongation into the wild and 
broken ravine, which is perhaps the finest part of Goblin Combe. 
Numerous halts were made to admire the rich freshness of the 
colours all around, whether in the foliage of the many trees that 
clung to the precipitous rocks, or the more humble wild flowers 
that carpeted the woods in all the freshness of their springtide 
dress, or with a view of unravelling the cause which made the 
busy ‘pismires’ in an ever passing and repassing line seek the 
topmost boughs of a young ash tree, whose buds were just then 
opening to the powerful rays of the sun. At length a wall which 
divided the more wooded portion of the Combe from the rest 
barred further progress ; a friendly gap however was rendered 
easily surmountable by a ladder which the kindly consideration of 
Mrs. Castle of Cleve Court had provided for the infirmities of the 
more heavily weighted of the Members, and the walk was con- 
tinued through scenery of increasing wildness, bearing evidence 
on all sides in the thickly strewn blocks of angular and subangular 
limestone of the vast power of atmospheric wearing away ; the 
lines of weathering, which chequered the fallen masses and 
presented an appearance of contraction by heat, plainly marked 
the process that had been going on before these blocks were 
detached from their parent beds. After passing the spot where 
the Members crossed over last year from Brockley Combe to 
