288 THE HEN8BAER0W INSCRIBED STONE. 



"Land's End; to the north and south, the ocean and sundry 

 " islands scattered therein ; wherethrough it passeth also for a 

 " wonder, 



" Hainsborough's vride prospect, at once, 



" Both feeds and gluts your eye, 

 " With Cornwall's whole extent, as it 



■' In length and breadth doth lie." 



When first found (during a search for stones) the inscribed 

 rock on Hensbarrow was a foot or two beneath the surface, and 

 all but one corner of it was covered. Adjacent to it is a small 

 exploring pit dug by the old tinners. 



Tin pits, large and small, and various other remains of 

 workings abound on every side. The district is also extensively 

 excavated for china clay. So rugged and wild is the tract of 

 country that this lettered stone is not easily found, although it 

 is not far from a track- way which crosses the furzy down. 



The stone measures 5 feet 6 inches, by 5 feet, across ; it is 

 not of great thickness, but must be of considerable weight. It 

 is a mass of granite, irregular in form, and seems never to have 

 been disturbed from its natural position, resting as it does on the 

 clay which underlies the soil of the locality. In outline it 

 somewhat resembles a shoulder of mutton. 



The letters are cut upon its upper surface and extend in 

 different directions. With praiseworthy care, Mr. Payne had 

 kept the characters covered with earth to protect them. After 

 being cleared, some of the incisions were seen to be very 

 distinct, others rather faint. 



At first sight the inscription appeared to be j u \ 

 surrounded by a few dim marks or cuts. I ro ) 



Imagination immediately supplied a variety of. readings. 

 Such a group of letters being suggestive of the following 

 enquiries : — 



Can the central synabol be a cross ? 

 Is the semicircle U, or is it C ? 



If the latter, are we to read ROC around the cross? 

 If so, is this rock a rugged altar, or a tombstone, 

 commemorating some mediaeval christian named after 

 St. Roche? (Eoche Rock, Hermitage, Church, and 

 Well are not far off). 



