266 SPRINGS, RIVERS, CANALS, LAKES, 



Botany might be studied here to great advantage at another sea- 

 son, because of the great variety of soils and elevations, all lying 

 within a small compass. I observed nothing but several curious 

 lichens, and plenty of gale or Dutch myrtle perfuming the borders 

 of the lake. This year the Wadd-mine had been opened, which is 

 done ouce in five years ; it is taken out in lumps sometimes as big 

 as a man's tisr, and will undergo no preparation by tire, not being 

 fusible ; when it is pure, soft, black, and close-drained, it is worth 

 sometimes thirty shillings a pound. There are no char ever taken 

 in these lakes, but plenty in But.'er-meie-wuter, vtluch lies a little 

 way north of Borrowdale, about Martinmas, vvhi.-h are potted here. 

 They sow chiefly oats and bigg here, which are now cutting and 

 still on the ground ; the rauis have done much hurt : yet observe, 

 the soil is so thin and Ir^ht, that no day has passed in which I 

 could not walk out with ease, and you know I am no lover of dirt. 

 Fell mutton is now in season for about six weeks ; it grows fat on 

 the mountains, and nearly resembles venison. Excellent pike and 

 perch, here called Bas ; trout is out of season; partridge in great 

 plenty. 



Oct. 8. I left Keswick and took the Ambleside road in a gloomy 

 morning; and about two miles fro?n the t v>n mounted an emi- 

 nence called Ca-'tif ngii, and the sun breaking out, discovered the 

 most enchanting view I have yet seen of the whole valley behind 

 me, the two lakes, the river, the mountains all in their giory ; 

 so that I had almost a mind to have gone back again The road 

 in some few parts is not yet compleated, yet good cou.-'ry road* 

 through sound bu : narrow and stony lanes, very safe in broad tiny, 

 light. This is llir case about Causeway-foot, and Na .'die- 



fells in Luncwaite. The vale yon go in has little broad ih ; I he moun- 

 tains are vast and rocky, the fields littl** and poor, and the inhabi- 

 tants are now making hay, and ?ee not .he sun by two hours in a 

 day so long as at Kesaick. Came to the foot of Helvc-llyn, along 

 which runs an excellent road, looking down frrmi a little height n 

 Lee's water, (called also ThirLmeer, or Wiborn-water) and soon 

 descending on its margin. Tiie lake looks black from its depth, and 

 from the gloom of the vast crags that scowl over it, though really 

 clear as glass; it is narrow, and about three miles long, resembling 

 a river in its course; little shining torrents hurry down thr rocks to 

 join it, but not a bush to overshadow them, or cover their march ; 



