STUDIES, SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIAL 



an " inaccessible valley," the sides formed by rocky preci- 

 pices, while at the upper and lower ends are narrow 

 gorges rendered impracticable, either by waterfalls, or by 

 the stream filling up the channel at its narrowest portion 

 where the vertical side walls leave no foothold. On a 

 recent visit I found that although the whole surrounding 

 country is very accurately described, the rivers and villages 

 bearing their true names so that the Doone valley can be 

 easily localised, yet it has none of the peculiar features 

 given to it in the story. On a lateral stream that joins 

 the larger valley there is a very charming little cascade 

 which is said to have given the idea of the water-slide up 

 which John Rigg clambered when he first entered the 

 Doone valley. It is well shown in the accompanying photo- 

 graphic print, but in place of the lateral vertical cliffs 

 there are only somewhat rugged slopes very easily ascended, 

 and the little valley above it is open, with gentle slopes 

 on either side and not a cliff to be seen. Neither is there 

 anything corresponding to the deep black pool at the 

 bottom of the cascade, so that the enthusiastic tourist is 

 greatly disappointed, and the people at the nearest house 

 in the valley are said to have been almost driven wild by 

 the constant stream of inquirers till, as a measure of self- 

 defence, they provided refreshments, and in this way ob- 

 . tained some reward for their trouble and loss of time. 

 Persons who know Exmoor thoroughly say that there is no 

 such valley in any part of the district, and that the talented 

 author has, in this portion of his work, drawn wholly on 

 his imagination for his facts. Nor, so far as I am aware, 

 has such a valley been described in any part of the British 

 Isles, or even in that land of rock-girt valleys and narrow 

 gorges, Switzerland. In fact, considering how very com- 

 mon are each of the four elements required to form an 

 inaccessible valley, it is remarkable how few such valleys 

 exist in any part of the world. These elements are, either 

 a waterfall or a water-blocked gorge at each end, and both 

 sides to be walled by a continuous line of precipices. 

 Valleys with rocky walls on one side and a narrow gorge 

 for outlet are frequent, but then the opposite side has 

 slopes which render it easily accessible, Not unfrequently 



