II. 



WILD EXMOOR. 



The long ascent, two miles of uphill road, 

 to the level of the moors, passes through 

 enclosed ground, where the deep valley 

 shelters the place from the winds of winter. 

 Thick hedges of beeeh run on either side of 

 the road in full June leaf, shutting out all 

 view and preventing the air from moderating 

 the heat. There is no current between these 

 hedges, which are not far apart, as the road 

 is narrow, and the sense of heat is further 

 increased by the slightly red tint of the dust. 

 The hedges are ten feet high, and as much 

 through, and beech grows close with well- 

 leafed sprays, so that although the ascent 

 is continuous increasing elevation does not 

 bring coolness. This impenetrability is of 



