CHAPTER VIII 



Dolgelly The water-shed Drws-y-nant Monks of Cymmer Abbey Gold 

 Nannaw The Demon Haunt Age of oaks Caterpillar plagues A 

 silk dress or trees Nature's workshop. 



June ^th. Walked to-day to Dolgelly and back, varying 

 the route in going and returning, and exploring some of 

 the many wild gorges and wooded ravines with which the 

 path is intersected. Dolgelly lies west-south-west of Bala, 

 whence, on a clear day, there is a magnificent view over the 

 full length of the lake, as it at present exists, and on through 

 the narrow pass beyond, till the end of the funnel is, as it 

 were, blocked by the distant peaks of Cader Idris. Road 

 and railway find their way side by side through the valley, 

 over comparatively level ground, though the mountains rise 

 abruptly on either hand to a height of some 2000 feet above 

 them. The actual water-shed is crossed close to the farm- 

 house at Pant Gwen, where it is curious to notice the almost 

 imperceptible change of direction in the flow of the water, 

 in the ditches cut through the peat, and on the sides of 

 the railway. Pant Gwen signifies "White Hill," the 

 applicability of the name not being very obvious, unless it 

 has arisen from the contrast which the rock presents to the 

 dark peat with which it is surrounded. The action of peat 

 upon hard igneous rock is well illustrated here, many of the 

 stones that have lain buried in it having become so nearly 

 white, and so much decomposed, that their true character 

 may easily be mistaken. It is only when a large piece has 

 been broken off that the solid blue or green heart is revealed 

 beneath its inch or two of pale skin, and this is often no 

 easy matter where a large stone has to be dealt with, while 

 many of the smaller ones have been altered right through. 

 Perhaps the name may indicate a " Hill of rocks," a descrip- 



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