266 On peculiar Noises occasionally heard 



lude to it solely for the purpose of oibserving, that we were most 

 forcibly struck with a dull, low, moaning, ^Eolian sound, which 

 alone broke upon the deathly silence, evidently proceeding from 

 the body of this mighty mass, though we in vain attempted to 

 connect it with any particular spot, or assign an adequate cause 

 for these solemn strains. The air was perfectly calm. The sky 

 was cloudless, and the atmosphere clear to that extraordinary 

 degree conceivable only by those who are familiar with the ele- 

 vated regions of southern cUmates. So clear and pure indeed, 

 that, at noon, a bright star which had attracted our notice 

 throughout the grey of the morning, still remained visible in the 

 zenith. By the naked eye, therefore, and still more with the 

 assistance of a telescope, any water-falls of sufficient magnitude 

 would have been distinguishable on a front base, and exposed 

 before us ; but not a stream was to be detected, and the bed of 

 what gave evident tokens of being occasionally a strong torrent, 

 intersecting the valley at its foot, was then nearly dry. I will not 

 presume to assert, that the sun's rays, though at the moment im- 

 pinging in all their glory on every point and peak of the snowy 

 hei"-hts, had any share in vibrating these mountain chords ; but 

 on a subsequent visit, a few days afterwards, when I went alone 

 to explore this wild scenery, and at the same hour stood on the 

 same spot, I listened in vain for the moaning sounds ; the air 

 was equally calm ; but the sun was hidden by clouds, and a cap 

 of dense mist hung over the greater portion of the mountain. 



My remaining instance in point is nearer home, and though 

 by no means of common occurrence, is sufficiently frequent to be 

 pretty generally known in its own immediate neighbourhood. 

 On turning to a map of Cheshire, it will be seen, that, from 

 within a short distance eastward of Macclesfield, a range of hills 

 extends in an irregular curve to the north-west, forming a sort 

 of concave screen, somewhat abruptly terminating over the 

 comparatively level plains of this part of the county. In dif- 

 ferent parts of these, as well as in more elevated spots, at the 

 various distances of from four to six miles or more, at certain 

 seasons of the year, usually in the early part of spring, when 

 the wind is easterly, and nearly calm on the flats, a hollow 

 moaning sound is heard, familiarly termed the '• soughing of 

 the wind," ftnd evidently proceeding from this elevated range, 



