AIRE. 93 



to the north, from which a rill proceeds, but is soon absorbed by 

 the jointed rocks. 



Malham Cove is but part of a long line of this elevated lime- 

 stone cliff, which, commencing near Kirkby Lonsdale, never loses 

 its importance till we reach the border of Wharfedale, at Thresh- 

 field. The dislocation or fault which caused this inequality of 

 the ground, is called the Craven Fault. Looking up at the front 

 of the Cove, we perceive that if the water came flowing in abun- 

 dance over the top, it would make a cascade of almost unrivalled 

 grandeur and it is said that such an event has occurred in con- 

 sequence of some choking of the channels from Malham Water, 

 in time of great floods. One mile east of the Cove, a chasm in 

 the limestone cliff admits a small rill, to dash through its sinu- 

 osities, and give animation to one of the grandest rock-scenes in 

 the north of England. This is Gordale, which is said to have 

 first received its water in 1730, after a violent thunderstorm. 



That part of the valley of the Aire which lies a few miles 

 below the Cove is called Malham Dale. The inns are near Mal- 

 ham Cove, not at Kirkby Malham, where the parish church is. 



Near Gargrave, which is a considerable trading village, a 

 Roman villa was discovered. The name seems to be com- 

 pounded from Gaer (camp) and grave (excavation) ; the former 

 element indicating perhaps the proximity of a Roman station : 

 the name of the adjoining place, Broughton, seems to give a 

 similar hint ; perhaps confirmed by the neighbouring hamlet of 

 Thornton. 



A considerable feeder from the same limestone range which 

 gave birth to the Aire, joins that river below Gargrave. Other 

 feeders come in by Broughton and Skipton, and now the Aire 

 quits the green pastures and smooth rounded hills of Craven, 

 and plunges into a deeper vale, roughened by ridges of millstone 

 grit, at Kildwick, spreading widely toward the north at Silsden, 

 and again contracted by rocks at Hawkcliff, and opening to the 

 south at Keighley. Rumeley's Moor, on the north, rising to the 

 height of 1308 feet, offers many remarkable rocks, and some 



