INTRODUCTION 



A FEW yards separated from the shore, in a picturesque 

 reach of the resplendent winding Wye, rests a huge 

 boulder, which ages ago must have broken away from a 

 ridge upon the hill-side above, upon which now there 

 are several such gigantic brethren of a sufficiently 

 threatening aspect, and which may be precipitated 

 any day into mid-channel, therein to cool their vast 

 sides after a prickly roll through thickset gorse. 



Below this block, in summer time, the divided stream 

 reunites to ripple in a rapid run, within which lurks 

 many a noble fish, both trout and salmon. Upon it, a 

 few stunted shrubs and heather grow ; 



Frondesque lymphis obstrepunt manantibus ; 

 Somnos quod iuvitet leves. 



Often has it formed a foreground for the wandering 

 artist's sketch : and oftener an afternoon couch for 

 ourselves, whereupon were strung together such reflec- 

 tions as occurred to us upon the events of the day. 

 From this diary the following pages present an extract 



From this huge stone our homestead itself would 

 appear to have borrowed its name, being mentioned in 

 Domesday Book as " Mainavre " (obviously a corruption 

 of the Welsh, " Y Maen yn yr avon," or " the Rock in 

 the River"), and was held from the king in considera- 

 tion of ten shillings and a sextary jar of honey annually. 



