CLEAR WATERS 



IV 

 THE WATERS OF CADER IDRIS 



THE waters that spring from the bosom, or born 

 in remoter wilds, wash the skirts of the 

 great Merioneth mountain are many and 

 bright. Chief among the latter are the Wnion from the 

 slopes of Arran and the Mawddach from Trawsfynydd 

 wastes, which mingling their streams at Dolgelly and 

 meeting the tide, form that long, winding estuary 

 to Bar mouth, which is, to my thinking, one of the 

 loveliest gems of all British scenery. On the other 

 and southern side, nurtured by the many spouting rills 

 which foam in the deep green troughs above Dinas 

 Mowddwy, sweeps down the strong, swift torrent of 

 the Dovey, swelling as it travels seaward with yet more 

 limpid waters from the boggy, russet uplands of old 

 Plinlimmon. Shedding its brooks to the right and 

 to the left into these wide-wandering rivers, Cader 

 herself can claim at least one lusty, and assuredly no 

 less beautiful, stream for her own particular nursling. 

 And this is the Dysynni, which rises high up in her 

 very throat within the dark shadow of the rocky preci- 

 pice whose crown forms the mountain-top, and that 

 ' chair ' whence the giant Idris, according to ancient 

 faith, used to survey a trembling world, and when out 



IOO 



