40 A FLOATING ISLAND. 



into it^ which appear like islands, nearly dividing 

 it into a chain of ponds. A round pond at the 

 northern end of the lake, connected with it by a 

 narrow creek, exhibits a strange phenomenon. It 

 has a floating Island, — not like that of Derwent- 

 water, which is a mass of mud and vegetable tangle, 

 — but actually bearing trees ; and this island is 

 carried by strong winds from the one side to the 

 other. The name of the pond is Priest^s Pot : a 

 fact which some explain by a tradition that a priest 

 was drowned there ; and others by a supposition of 

 its holding about as much as a thirsty priest would 

 like to drink if the liquor were sufficiently good. 

 Lakebank is a pretty place ; and further on. Lake- 

 field, at Near Sawrey, commands perhaps the best 

 view in the valley. Just beyond, the road turns to 

 the left, through an undulating country of con- 

 siderable beauty. We find a trace of the rebellion 

 of 1745 in the name of a lane, called "Scotch 

 Gate " (way.) It was here that the fearful High- 

 landers were looked for, on their march to Derby ; 

 and here they might have had all their own way if 

 they had come, for Sawrey had no idea of showing 

 fight. All the inhabitants, carrying all their val- 

 uables, hied away, and took refuge together in a 

 solitary building which was called " Cook^s braw 

 boghouse," And braw it must have been, to hold all 

 the Sawreyans. The view of Windermere from the 

 highest point is very fine. The road leads through 

 Farther Sawrey to the Ferry House. If there is 

 daylight left, (and there may be, as the Ferry is 

 only seven miles from Coniston Waterhead,) the 

 traveller may as well go to the Station House, 

 which he must have seen from the opposite side of 



