ANTIQUITY AND PHENOMENON ON A WELSH HILL. J; 



AN ANTIQUITY AND A PHENOMENON ON A 

 WELSH HILL. 



BY THE REV. O. M. FEELDEN, M.A. 



On an out-of-the-way hill, close to the sea coast of Carnarvon Bay, 

 about ten miles from Pwllheli, and four from Nevin, there is a curious 

 relic of great antiquity. The hill is called " Yr Eifi," oorrupted by 

 Saxon tongues into " The Rivals." It has three peaks, the highest of 

 which is in the centre, and in height about 1,880 feet. There is a broad 

 marshy dip between this and the peak more to the east and most inland 

 of the three. In this dip, and stretching up the western side of the 

 inland peak, is the object I have referred to. It is an ancient fortification, 

 nearly oblong in shape, surrounded by a wall of loose stones, about 

 900 yards in circumference, single where it runs along the nearly pre- 

 cipitous side of the mountain, but double (and in some places there are 

 traces of its having been treble) where the ground is not so steep. 



The main entrance was on the west side. There is an opening in 

 the inner wall, and then an inclined causeway at right angles to the 

 opening down to another opening in the lower wall. Within the enclosed 

 space, scattered about apparently without much regularity, are groups of 

 huts composed of loose stone walls, mostly circular or oval, but some 

 nearly square. The circular ones are from ten to fifteen feet in diameter, 

 the walls in some instances six feet high ; but very few attain this 

 height, and in most cases the area is so filled up with stones and 

 rubbish that it is very difficult to judge what the height was. The huts 

 were probably roofed with turf or heath. There are no traces of windows. 

 The sides of the mountain are covered with masses of loose stones, some 

 of great size, which doubtless served for purposes of defence. 



This singular place is now known by the name of " Tre'r Ceiri," 

 "The Town of Fortresses;'' but I believe neither its age, origin, nor 

 purpose has as yet been satisfactorily determined. Some suppose its 

 builders to have been the Gael or Gwyddel, before they were driven out 

 by the Cymry, though tradition assigns it to the latter. But this may 

 be accounted for by the supposition that the Cymry appropriated to their 

 own use a fortress of such strength and extent. However, there can be 

 no doubt that it dates back to a remote antiquity, and it is well worth a 

 visit. Any one who undertakes the labour of scaling the steep and 

 strong eminence which this ancient fortress crowns will be well rewarded 

 for his trouble, not only by the curious sight Tre'r Ceiri presents, but also 

 by the magnificent view which the hill commands, Holyhead Mountain, 

 Bardsey Island, Carmarthen Bay, with the Merionethshire coast beyond, 

 being all plainly visible on a clear day ; and, above all, Snowdon in all its 

 grandeur, and the magnificent pile of adjacent mountains, which remind 

 one of a monarch surrounded by his court. 



Taking leave of Tre'r Ceiri, I made my way to the highest point of Tr 

 Eifi, and while there witnessed a very remarkable phenomenon, which I 

 believe is but rarely seen. It was the evening of a summer day, and the 



c 



