188 CAERNARVONSHIRE. 



venture ; for, I have known a naval officer, who, 

 though a capital hand at a coracb, was upset twice 

 in going about a quarter of a mile down a river 

 where he had never been before. 



CAERNARVONSHIRE. 



The county of Caernarvon is traversed by a chain 

 of the loftiest mountains in Wales, which rise gra- 

 dually in height, from the extremity in Bardsey, to 

 Snow don, the centre 'of the chain, where they as 

 gradually diminish to the other extremity, the pro- 

 montory of Penmaen Bach, in Conway Bay. The 

 elevation, which bears the name of Snowdon, is a 

 rocky mass, composed of various cliffs of different 

 heights ; some of which are but little overtopped by 

 the peak itself. The summit of this eminence is 

 about twelve hundred yards above the level of high- 

 water-mark, and forms a mere point, being only ten 

 or twelve feet in diameter. Round this point a cir- 

 cular wall has been built, which is extremely con- 

 venient for the traveller to sit on, and thus enjoy at 

 his ease the grand prospects that present themselves 

 on every side. 



From the summit the mountain appears as if 

 propped by four buttresses, between which are many 

 deep cwms, or hollows. In the distant bottom of 

 three of these are one or more lakes. The whole 



