44 DOLGELLE TO MACHYNLLETHr 



ynlleth, may afccnd that mountain. If it is not 

 found inconvenient, on account of carnages or 

 horfes, they may go over the fummit, and down the 

 other way to Dolgelle : this they would do in nearly 

 as fliort a fpace of time as it would require to 

 defcend again to the Blue Lion. — The bed I flept in 

 was not a very bad one, nor was I here, though in 

 a fmaller houfe, fo peftered with fleas, as I had be- 

 fore been at Beddgelert, 



Ascent to the Summit of Cadeu Idris, 



The morning proved more favourable than I 

 expefted ; and although it was ftill cloudy, I was 

 determined to venture on an excurfion to the fum- 

 mit of the mountain, under the hopes that the 

 weather might entirely clear up before I arrived at 

 the top. About nine o'clock, therefore, in company 

 with my loquacious holt, I commenced my expedi- 

 tion. 



I have faid that this mountain had its name from 

 a perfon called Idris, fuppofed by tradition to have 

 been an enormous giant. The old bardic writings, 

 however, rather reprefent him great in mind than 

 ftature : in thefe he is faid to have been a poet, art 

 aftronomer, and philofopher. He is fuppofed alfo 

 to have been a prince of thefe parts ; but the period 

 is fo remote, that little more than his name and 

 talents are now to be afcertained *. Cadair Idris ^ 



* He is fometimes called Cawr Idrlsf or king Idrls, Caivr 

 Vieing an old Welfli word for king. 



or 



