KOMNEY MARSH AND 



PART I. 



district depends, the surface of the marsh being under 

 the level of the sea at the highest tides. The following 

 descriptive view of the marsh, taken from the high 

 ground above the ancient Roman fortress of Portus 

 Limanis, near the more modern but still ancient castle 

 of Lymne, will give an idea of the extent and geo- 

 graphical relations of the district. 



DESCRIPTIVE VIEW OF ROMNKY MARSH, FROM LYAINE CASTLE. 

 [By Percival Skelton, after his original design.] 



The tract is so isolated, that the marshmen say the 

 world is divided into Europe, Asia, Africa, America, 

 and Bomney Marsh. It contains few or no trees, its 

 principal divisions being formed by dykes and water- 

 courses. It is thinly peopled, but abounds in cattle and 

 sheep of a peculiarly hardy breed, which are a source 

 of considerable wealth to the marshmen ; and it affords 

 sufficient grazing, in genial years, for more than half a 

 million of sheep, besides numerous herds of cattle. 



The first portion of the district reclaimed was an 

 island, upon which the town of Old Ronmey now stands ; 



