A TOUR ROUND NORTH WALES. 173 



dous rock, on \vhofe fide feveral large 

 flate works are carried on. From hence, 

 betwixt November 1775 and Novem- 

 ber 1776, about 904,000 were fold at 

 different rates of between fix fhillings 

 and twenty fhillings a thoufand.* The 

 quarries are high in the mountain; and 

 I obferved, that the mode here of con- 

 veying them down was different from, 

 and apparently much more dangerous 

 than, that praclifed in the flate works 

 about, Llanberis near Caernarvon. Here 

 they are placed in a fmall fledge, which, 

 by a rope, is fattened to the fhoulders of 

 the man who has the care of conveying 

 it down, which is done along paths made 

 for the purpofe, which wind along the 

 fide of the mountain. He then begins 

 to defcend, his face towards it ; and, hav- 

 ing firm hold with his hands, the velo- 

 city which the fledge acquires in it'sde- 



* Pennant's Tour, IT, 347. 



fcent 



