ON THE ITHON 25 



crosswise on two strong chains on the river ; visitors 

 are cautioned that not more than three persons 

 should go on it at one time. It wobbles about in 

 an alarming way as one crosses, but there is nothing 

 to be afraid of. I suppose it has wobbled in this 

 way for many generations, with an occasional patch 

 up, and people think it will go on wobbling for ever. 

 Frisky young fellows are much given to jump on it 

 in the middle, and so enjoy the screams of their 

 lady friends. The experiment is dangerous. 



What a delightfully pretty spot it is ! The 

 river winds round in a semi-circle beneath wooded 

 heights, not unlike, in a smaller way, the Thames 

 at Clieveden. On the other side, at a meadow's 

 breadth, rises a conical rocky hill to a consider- 

 able height, called Cefyn-Llys, or the Court House 

 Hill ; supposed remains of a British fortress. I 

 and my daughter went there to look at it from an 

 angler's stand-point. It was on a lovely summer 

 evening, and the fish were beginning to rise freely. 

 There it was that I first wet my line in the waters 

 of the pleasant but alder-bound Ithon. Unluckily, 

 I could not stay long enough. I fished for half-an- 

 hour, and got a brace of small trout ; then we had 

 to trudge back over the hills and through woods. 

 It is a lovely, secluded spot, and I hope to pay it 

 another visit. 



In the morning we had driven over to Builth, 

 about seven miles, through very picturesque scenery, 

 just to have a look at the Wye. It is a grand 

 stream there ; but, as I was told by an intelligent 



