THE GWAUN. THE NEVERN. 107 



THE GWAUN, OF GWAIN, 



Also has its source in the Precelly Mountains, 

 and, after a romantic course of about twenty miles 

 falls into the sea at Fishguard. 



THE NEVERN 



Has a similar origin, near the mountain of Vrenni 

 Vawr.* 



* There is a fine brook of the same name in Monmouth- 

 shire, which rises in the neighbourhood of Trelleck, and, after 

 a course of about eight miles, falls into the Severn near the 

 New Passage, below Caldicot Bridge. Flowing through a 

 moorland plain, its current, though deep, is by no means rapid, 

 and in summer is filled with weeds. Caldicot Castle, a splen- 

 did relic of feudal magnificence, once the property of the 

 " haughty Bolingbroke," and still forming a portion of the 

 royal domains, stands on its eastern bank ; and it is thence 

 downwards, until the Nevern joins the sali water, that the 

 fish are largest and most abundant. 



This stream is well stocked with fine trout, flounders, and 

 eels. There is no other species of fish ; and in the spring, be- 

 fore the weeds grow to any considerable height, there are few 

 spots in Monmouthshire more deserving the angler's attention ; 

 the water flowing over a fine chalky soil, and the banks from 

 the castle to the sea being on both sides unencumbered with 

 wood. Trout of five pounds have occasionally been taken 

 with a fly. A short time since, the son of Mr. Baldwyn, a 

 youth then about fifteen years of age, hooked and killed one of 

 the above weight, opposite the old castle. 



In the neighbouring meadows, are a number of curious pits of 

 clear water, generally very deep, and covered at the bottom with 

 moss, through which a copious spring is continually bubbling : 

 they are, from this circumstance, called " whirlpools " by the 



