SEAWARD ROCKS. 165 



and facing its opposite neighbour the giant Hills- 

 borough, the joint guardians of the harbour mouth. 

 And thus we have gazed over a semicircle, and are 

 brought round to" the channel again. 



If now we descend to the principal promenade, 

 and stand on that side which faces the Welsh coast, 

 there stretches down from our feet to the water's edge 

 a rough, irregular slope of rock about fifty feet in 

 perpendicular height, broken into broad shelves and 

 wall-like descents, and cleft with deep narrow chasms, 

 up which the sea shoots and boils with a tremendous 

 uproar. Steps rudely cut in the rock give easy access 

 to the ledges at different elevations, and on fine sunny 

 days these are favourite spots with the ladies, who 

 scramble down and seat themselves with their books 

 or their netting on the little rocky perches by the 

 hour together. When there is a heavy swell in from 

 the north or west, these stations are in more than 

 wonted demand ; for the incoming sea rushing upon 

 the stony barrier, dashing up to a great height in 

 impotent fury, and breaking into a cloud of spray and 

 foam that sprinkles the beholders even far up on the 

 heights, is a sight well worth seeing. 



WILDERSMOUTH. 



The little bay that lies between Capstone and the 

 Runnacleaves is scarcely less attractive as a place of 

 resort than the promenade of the former hill by which 

 it is overlooked. A tiny brook, dignified however 



