SURVEY OF WINDERMERE LAKE. 17 



through the wildest places in the district to buy up 

 such relics at high prices. Still, there are speci- 

 mens left, as the observant traveller will notice. 



Of the four roads which meet here, the one to 

 his left would take him to Ambleside ; the one op- 

 posite, to Troutbeck. To reach his inn he must 

 take the one to the right, which leads him straight 

 home. ^ 



WINDERMERE LAKE. 



The next thing to be done is to take a survey 

 of the whole lake by a steamboat trip. During 

 the summer, two steamers make four 

 ^'^^^^L^KB ™^ trips each ; so that the stranger can 

 choose his own hour, and go down 

 or up first, as he pleases. In accordance with 

 the rule of lake approach, we should recommend 

 his going down first. He embarks at the pier 

 at Bowness, and is carried straight across to the 

 Ferry, where the boats touch. Then the course is 

 southwards, with the lake narrowing, and the hills 

 sinking till the scenery becomes merely pretty. 

 The water is very shallow towards the foot; and 

 the best practicable channel is marked out by 

 posts. The best work that the whole neighbour- 

 hood could undertake would be the deepening of 

 the lake in this part, and of the river which carries 

 o& the overflow. Not only is the passage of the 

 steamers difiicult : there is a far worse evil in the 

 inundations which take place on all the low-lying 

 lands, even up to Eydal, from the insufiiciency 

 of the outlet. The mischief has much increased 

 since drainage has been introduced. The excel- 

 lent and indispensable practice of land drainage 



