TATE : THE MALHAM DRY RIVER BED. 
59 
mill. The stream from Malham Tarn runs half a mile southward, 
and sinks through a large opening in the limestone. Nothing more 
is seen of the water until the foot of Malham Cove is reached. The 
water rushes in a powerful stream from an opening at the base of the 
Cove, and pursuing a southward course passes through the village of 
Malham, and half a mile below is joined by the stream from Gordale. 
The Aire then runs nearly due south through Hanlith and Airton to 
Bell Busk, where it is joined by the Otterburn." 
These conflicting st-atements suggested a series of investigations 
that should determine, as far as possible, the actual source of the 
Aire, and a report, with full details of the work done, appeared in 
our Proceedings for 1879. It was found that the drainage off Hard 
Flask and Fountain's Fell into Malham Tarn, after flowing south for 
lialf a mile, disappeared in the water-sinks," the bulk of the water 
reappearing at Airehead Springs, nearly three miles below the Tarn ; 
the remainder emerging at the foot of the Cuve. 
But the waters of the Aire have not always taken this sub- 
terranean course. Hurtley, the Malham Schoolmaster, writing in 
1786 says : — " From the apex of this Cove, after what is in this part 
of the country called a rugg, or a succession of rainy and tempestuous 
weather, when the water-sink at the southern extremity of the 
Tarn is unable to receive the overflux of the Lake, there falls a large 
and heavy torrent, making a more grand and magnificent cascade 
than imagination can form any idea of. This vast and precipitate 
cascade, so generally enquired after, and so seldom seen by travellers, 
in the summer months hath been so much admired as to leave it 
equally subject of wonder and concern, that the inlets of the stream 
which might easily be done, have not been stopped, and this lofty 
and imperious cataract thereby rendered a perpetual object of gratifi- 
cation and astonishment." " Twice within the last forty years the 
swollen waters of the Tarn have made their way over the Cove, but 
the torrent was dispersed in one vast cloud of spray before it reached 
the bottom. Its density and the magnificent sight may be imagined 
from the fact that the spectators could not approach within a hundred 
yards of the foot of the rock without being drenched through." 
(Howson). 
