294 A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALES. 



up as loft : for it is, they fay, a certain omen 

 that they muft die within the year. I have 

 been told, that it is curious to fee a ftout 

 lufty fellow, weighing fixteen or eighteen 

 ftone, ftriving to get into thefe narrow 

 confines, with as much confidence of fuc- 

 ceeding as a {tripling a yard high. And 

 when he fails in his attempt, to fee him, 

 contrary to all reafon, fretting becaufe his 

 body, which contains in folid bulk more 

 than the place could hold, were it cram- 

 med into all corners, cannot be got in. 

 But when we confider, that fuperftition and 

 enthufiafm have generally fo little to do 

 with reafon, we muft not wonder that this 

 fhould add to the heap of incongruities that 

 have already been given to us. 



Llan Elian was formerly a fanctuary or 

 place of refuge, confirmed by a charter 

 from Cafwallon law-hir. Of this charter 

 there are copies yet in exiftence.* 



* Rowland's Mona Antiqua, p. 147. 



In 



