WALES AND THE ISLANDS. 275 



Brecon, and Merioneth. In Flint, the best of all the 

 counties, rents rise to the average of England, 25s. per 

 acre ; in Merioneth the most sterile, they are as low 

 as 5s. The general average of the Principality is 

 about equal to that of France, although both soil and 

 climate are incomparably inferior. Population also fol- 

 lows about the same proportion, averaging one head to 

 five acres. If the low grounds are equally populous 

 with the neighbouring English counties, the mountain- 

 ous parts may be classed among the most thinly in- 

 habited of Europe ; but even these uninhabited parts 

 have made pretty good progress in farming during the 

 last fifty years. The land is worth 10 to 15 per acre, 

 which is as much as in one-half of France. 



Here again, as we always find, it is the live stock which 

 makes so ungrateful a soil available. In those districts 

 which are susceptible of culture, the four-course system 

 is being more adopted every day, and the improved 

 breeds of England are becoming naturalised. In the 

 steep and uncultivated parts of the country there is a 

 kind of half-wild oxen, sheep, and horses, of small size, 

 but docile and active, which seek their food among the 

 rocks and precipices. Welsh beef and mutton are greatly 

 esteemed ; and the island of Anglesea alone exports 

 thousands of these animals yearly to England. Formerly 

 they had to swim the Strait, which nowadays is passed 

 by the Menai Bridge. The small "Welsh horse's are also 

 in pretty good demand. 



Until lately, the general condition of the Welsh popu- 

 lation was not very satisfactory. Although it is a long 

 time since it became united to England, this Princi- 

 pality has continued to preserve its distinct language and 

 peculiar character. The Welsh and Irish belong to the 

 Celtic race ; and as if this origin alone were not suffi- 



