54 



THE SEVEEN TUNNEL. 



gravel at every tide. This heavy gravel would naturally 

 seek the deepest channel in its course, and there saw a 

 gradually deepening channel, which would thus occupy the 

 site of the original course of the stream, and which now 

 forms the channel of the Shoots. The formation of this 

 deep channel of the Shoots, the writer, therefore, imagines 

 to bo duo to the constantly repeated sawing action of the 

 gravel, while the collateral rocks wore subject to the action 

 of the water alone. It thus happens that at low water the 

 roclcs may be walked over from either side up to the Shoots 

 a mile and a half on the English side, and half a mile on the 

 Welsh side. It is remarkable, however, that the Slioots 

 channel, as is now known, has been cut through the hardest 

 part of these hardened strata. 



Over the English Stones the walking is very bad, for the 

 surface of the rock ia extremely I'ough and fall of water 

 holes : it is, besides, eutiroly covered with slippery sea- weed. 

 No speed can bo made over them. The walking upon them 

 is also attended with great danger if it should happen to bo 

 a little late upon the tide, which rises over them with great 

 rapidity. Two of the writer's assistants and their staff- 

 holder had a very narrow escape from being drowned upon 

 them about this time. 



The only safe way of doing any work on these stones is to 

 have a boat waiting at hand by which to get off before the 

 tide is too high. 



On the occasion referred to, tlie tlirco had landed on the; 

 stones on the margin of the Slioots during low water of a 

 good' spring-tide, with their spirit level, etc., in order to 

 start upon a section over the stones. The two men who 

 took them there in the boat had orders to be there at the 

 proper time to take them off again. Instead of waiting 

 ^'here, however, as they ought to have done, the boatmen 



