Botanizing at Oalcshott Heath. 



271 



We toiled on till we reached the summit, and there we sat 

 down on the edge of a large saucer-like hollow of which the 

 summit consists, and drank in the crisp breeze, and felt for the 

 first time the grandeur of this solitude. And it is grand. The 

 heathy slope looks as forbiddingas the grave as you enter upon 

 it, but changes to the luxuriance of a flowery cushion, into 

 which the foot sinks deliciously, when it is reached ; and after 

 being shut in by the towering wall of Scotch pine on one 

 hand, and the steep dark slopes of the heath upon the other, 



XICHEN, LING-, AND DODDER. 



the sudden expansion of the view on gaining the summit has. 

 an effect of that freshening and inspiriting kind that we feel 

 on quitting a sick-room after a night's watching-, to taste the 

 breeze that comes with the rising sun, when the wild song of" 

 the thrush mingles with the delicious melody of the nightin- 

 gale. Now there is much said about fine views, and I know 

 a few of them. Friend knows a few also, but self and friend 

 agree that the view from this cone is worth a journey of a hun- 

 dred miles. On all sides there is a distinct boundary of green 

 hills, forming an almost sharp circular basin, in the centre of 



