486 Horace B. Woochvard — A Ramble Across the Mendips. 



Mr. Thomas Wright, T'.S.A., remarks that the only monuments to 

 which people in a rude state of civilization seem to have been anxious 

 to give durability were their graves, and in the greater number of 

 cases the barrows and cromlechs were placed on lofty hills, com- 

 manding extensive views of the sea, if on the coast ; or when inland, 

 of the surrounding country, as it seemed to have been the desire of 

 the chiefs to be buried in such commanding positions. 



At Stanion Drew some interesting Druidical circles are to be seen 

 in fields to the east and south of the church. There are traces of 

 three circles, indicated by huge stones, the largest is about nine feet 

 in height, and the largest circle, or rather ellipse, measures 126 

 yards by 115 yards ; fourteen stones remain in it. 



The Mendip mines have been worked from very early times. The 

 district was occupied by the BelgcB, and, subsequently the Eomans, 

 probably tempted hj the rich mines, made it one of their first points 

 of occupation. In the time of Edward IV. it is said that these mines 

 furnished employment to 10,000 miners, and the immense deposits 

 of slags and slimes indicate the extent of the workings. Galena 

 (sulphide of lead) aud Calamine (carbonate of zinc) are the ores 

 which bave been principally worked. There is a good deal of iron- 

 ore also. A common way of discovering a lode or mineral vein was 

 to dig a trench until one was met with. Another plan, and one that, 

 strange to say, even now appears to be practised, was to use the 

 divining-rod. This consisted of a forked hazel twig, which we are 

 told " if properl}^ held by a person with whom it will answer," will 

 indicate any metal, -coal, or a spring of water ! The virtue of 

 divining is confined also to few persons. The receipt is, " Go to a 

 hedge, and cut from it a forked twig of hazel or white thorn, of one 

 or two years' growth, cut off the small sprouts, then place the end 

 of each fork between the second and third fingers of each hand, and 

 apply your hands closely to each side of the body, just below the 

 short ribs ; keep the rod in a horizontal position, and walk slowly 

 over the ground. If you possess the power, when you arrive over 

 the hidden object of search, the fork will either be repelled with 

 force back against the chest, or attracted downwards to the earth." 

 It is strange, indeed, that such superstition should even now invest 

 the minds of some people ! 



Leaving the Priddy mines, we proceed northwards by the " Castle 

 of Comfort" (not at all a comforting old inn), and turn off from the 

 main road down Lamb's Bottom, a narrow defile formed in the 

 Mountain Limestone, which juts out from the cliffs in bosses and 

 peaks with now and then a hollow with a clear spring gushing out, 

 and beautiful specimens of Cysfopieris, wall-rue, ceterach, common 

 Maiden-hair, and other ferns lining the interior of the miniature 

 cavern. There was formerly a large cavern accessible by a shaft 

 seventy fathoms deep ; several large vaults were thus reached which 

 contained many stalactites. Nothing is now to be seen or heard of 

 this cavern. The scenery in this neighbourhood reminds one of 

 many parts of Cornwall, especially near the Cheesewring, wliere the 

 summit of the hills is wild and ojjen, with scarcely a house in view^ 



