A. R. Andrew—The Dolgelley Gold-belt. 201 
effect in its lower course. Even in 1838 it had succeeded in damming 
back the Ganges to such an extent near the confluence that the latter 
was fordable at several places above Goalundo, and was compelled to 
seek for a new exit to the sea. The Garai, which leaves the Ganges 
at Kushtia, was enlarged from a mere creek unable to float a vessel 
drawing more than a foot or two of water, as Rennell found it in 1764, 
to a broad and deep river, now the principal steamer-route from 
Calcutta to the Upper Ganges. What further developments may take 
place we cannot predict, but it is possible that their influence may be 
felt still higher up the Ganges, and may even extend to the Jalangi or 
the Bhagirathi, and so affect the welfare of Calcutta. The mitigation 
of any evil effects these changes may have is a matter for the 
consideration of engineers. If they become acute, something might 
be done to assist the Ganges by inducing the Teesta to return to its 
old allegiance; but the forces exerted by such vast bodies of moving 
water are so prodigious that it is unsafe to speculate without 
a complete knowledge of the facts. 
IJ.—Tue Gronocy or tar Dotcentey Gorp-Bett, Norra Waters. 
By Arruur R. Anprew, M.Sc., F.G.S. 
(Continued from April Number, p. 171.) 
History Anp Sraristics oF GoLD-MINING IN THE J)oLGELLEY AREA. 
T is believed that the ancient Britons and the Welsh were fully 
aware of the precious metal which lay among their hills. Three 
Welsh chieftains are known to have possessed chariots of gold, and it 
is inferred that this gold was derived from mines which the Welsh 
worked at an early date. Many gold ornaments have from time to 
time been unearthed, and as their style differs entirely from that 
customary at the early Christian period, they are believed to belong 
to a time long anterior to that of Christianity. Again, it is known 
that the Romans under Julius Cesar worked minerals in various parts 
of Britain, and there are many evidences of Roman mine-workings 
where gold must have been the principal, if not the sole, object of 
search. One of the most remarkable of these is outside Merioneth- 
shire, at Gogofau, near Pumpsaint, in Carmarthenshire, where the 
traces of Roman occupancy are undoubted. Another locality, this 
time in Merionethshire, is reported by Ramsay (12, p. 64) as on the 
banks of the Allt-y- Wenallt. 
Coming nearer to the present, it is well to mention the belief of 
Readwin (81, p. 1) that gold was worked in Wales during the reign 
of Charles I. The facts on which Readwin bases his belief are as 
follows :—Thomas Bushell, between 1631 and 1645, rented royal 
mines in Merionethshire, near Barmouth ; in 1636 he erected a mint 
at Aberystwyth, ostensibly to coin silver coin; he also coined £3 
pieces and other gold pieces; Bushell gave and lent to Charles I 
some two anda half millions of our money ; his was the only mint 
at the time not under the control of the Parliamentary forces, and 
thus able to supply the Royalists; Bushell could not have imported 
the gold into Wales, for he was hemmed in by the Parliamentary 
