Hinchelsea. 81 



Beaulieu Heath, there is not a single tree, nothing but one 

 vast stretch of heather, which late in the summer covers the 

 ground with its crimson and amethyst. There is only one 

 fault to be found with it, that when its glory is past it leaves 

 so great a blank behind : its grey withered flowers and its grey 

 scanty foliage forming such a contrast with its previous bright- 

 ness and cheerfulness. 



But these two commons will at all times be interesting to 

 the archseologist and historian. On the north-east side lies the 

 Roydon, that is, the rough gi'ound, a word which we find in 

 other parts of the Forest ; and not far from it is Lichmore or 

 Latchmore Pond — the place of corpses — which is confirmed by 

 the various adjoining barrows.* 



After this point, there is nothing to attract the traveller, 

 unless he is a botanist, to the south. Wootton, and Wilverley, 

 and Setthorns, and Holmsley, are all young plantations, whilst 

 at Wootton the Forest now entirely ceases, though once stretch- 

 ing five miles farther, as far as the sea. So let him make his 

 way to Longslade, or Hinchelsea Bottom, as it is indifferently 

 called, where about the middle of June blossoms the lesser 

 bladderwort (Utricularia minor), and about the same time, or 

 rather later, the floating bur- reed {Sparganeum natans). 



Above, rises Hinchelsea Knoll, with its old hollies and 

 beeches ; and still farther to the north the high lands round 

 Lyndhurst and Stony Cross crowned \vith woods. "Westward, 

 the heather stretches over plain and hill till it reaches 

 Burley. Making right through Hinchelsea, and then skirting 

 the north side of Wilverley plantations, we shall come to the 

 valley of Holmsley, so beloved by Scott, and which put him 



* For some account of these barrows, see chapter xvii. 

 M SI 



