240 WAVES OF THE SEA 



filled even at low water, and the bore, besides 

 being much higher than at Newnham, reaches from 

 bank to bank, and seems as if it would overwhelm 

 everything in its course. Nevertheless, con- 

 venience of access, and the wide prospect of the 

 river from the lovely Newnham churchyard, 

 situated on a salient bluff at the bend in the 

 river's course, combine to make this a favourite 

 spot for viewing the approach of the bore. The 

 first appearance of an advancing line of foaming 

 water far down the river below Awre, at a distance 

 of some miles, is indeed a most impressive sight. 



I first saw the approaching bore from Newn- 

 ham at the high tide of April 29, 1900. Having 

 descended to the ferry, I entered a boat and sur- 

 mounted the wave just outside the projecting cliff, 

 which makes a kind of harbour at the ferry. There 

 was no change noticeable in the current when the 

 boat rose to the bore, in the deep water, but after it 

 was passed the boatman almost immediately brought 

 the vessel to land with a few strong strokes, in 

 order to avoid the tremendous current which 

 quickly succeeded the passage of the wave. 



The wave was not solitary, for after it passed 

 the water flowed back from the shore, exposing 

 many yards of tabular rocks which it had covered. 

 It then surged up again, and during the rapid cur- 



