CRAUMERE POOL. 147 
fall rather under the denomination of morasses or 
bogs in the generality of cases. Craumere Pool the 
largest of these collections of water, 1s the celebra- 
ted fount whence many of the Devonshire rivers are 
derived, but still offers to the view more the cha- 
racter of a swamp or bog than that of a lake.* 
The schist tracts broken as they are into number- 
less hills, and presenting numerous specimens of 
upland vallies, are yet so disposed as to afford no 
sites for the accumulation of stationary waters by 
broad expanses of hollowed land between the ele- 
vations. On the contrary, the eminences closely 
approximate, and furnish steep and narrowed 
passages for the rivulets. 
With respect to Bovey Heathfield, some diffe- 
rence of opinion exists as to its actual elevation 
comparatively with the sea, for, according to some 
* “ We missed Crauwmere Pool, and it is not to be wondered at 
“that we did so ; the precise situation is found with difficulty 
“even by those who are well acquainted with the topography of 
“ Dartmoor. We must at one time have been very near it. Several 
* of the Devonshire rivers are said to have their rise from this 
“pool ;—strictly speaking, that is not however the case, the 
“ rivers rise from various parts of the morass around the pool: 
* the bogs encircle it for miles. This curious pool, from its ob- 
“scure situation, has been but seldom visited by travellers ;—a 
“ friend who saw it a few years ago has favoured me with the 
“ following particulars :—‘ Craumere Pool is of an oblong form, 
“ about 150 feet in length and 80 feet in breadth ; it was not full 
“ of water, which gushes from a bed of gravel beneath the stratum 
“of peat bog. I descended about ten feet to the edge of the 
“water. It cannot be approached with horses on account of 
“the quaking bogs, and although provided with a guide, I should 
“ have missed the spot if a labourer had not pointed it out to me.’” 
Jones’ Obs. on Scenery, &c. of Moreton Hampstead and Dartmoor.p. 54. 
Tr 
