246 Kesixjiclt ^fetrict, 



dark, stupendous, almost perpendicular ^jj^ionfotEt ^tag, 

 frowns above : and as the traveller, already at a considerable 

 height, looks up at the quarrymen in the glate^quatties near 

 the summit, it almost takes his breath away to see them 

 hanging like summer-spiders quivering from the eaves of a 

 house. 



These ©.xiattgtnen are a hardy race, capable of feats of 

 strength which are now rarely heard of elsewhere. No heavy- 

 armed knight, who ever came here to meet the Scot — and 

 there were such encounters on this spot in the ancient border 

 wars — carried a greater weight, or did more wonders in a 

 day than these fine fellows. The best slate of Honister 

 Crag is found near the top : and there, many hundred feet 

 aloft, may be seen by good eyes, the slate-built hovels of 

 the quarrymen, some of whom ascend and descend many 

 times between morning and night. Now the men come 

 leaping down at a speed that appears appalling to strangers. 

 Formerly, the slate was brought down on hurdles, on men's 

 backs : and the practice is still continued in some remote 

 quarries, w^here the expense of conveyance by carts would 

 be too great, or the roads do not admit of it. About forty 

 years ago there was a man named Joseph Clark at Honister 

 who made seventeen journeys, (including seventeen miles of 

 climbing up and scrambling down), in one day, bringing 

 down 4 tons 17 cwts. of slate. In ascending, he carried 

 the hurdle, weighing 8olbs. ; and in descending, he brought 

 each time 64olbs. of slate. At another time he carried, in 

 three successive journeys, i,28olbs. each time. His greatest 

 day's work was bringing ii,77ilbs. ; in how many journeys 

 it is not remembered, but in fewer than seventeen. He lived 

 at Stonethwaite, three miles from his place of work. His 

 toils did not appear to injure him : and he declared that he 

 suftered only from thirst. It was beHeved in that day that 



