39 
Before also, witli a like object, thougli at the same time subserving 
the picturesque, the rising grounds were planted as well, and 
cultivation, as at Foulraere, seemed, with a magic power, to make a 
garden smile in the wilderness. 
Ut the true origin of these and other Meres in this county I am 
unfortunately not geologist enough to give a satisfactory opinion ; 
but when on the spot I gleaned certain facts respecting them which 
will not, I think, be uninteresting to those who may be able to 
explain their nature and formation far better than I can. 
All these Meres lie witliin the Parish of Wretham, as well as 
the Great and West Meres on Mr. Birch’s estate. At Kingmei-e, 
jirobably from its adjoining the various boundaries, no less than 
seven parishes have the right of watering sheep, viz : — Kilverstone, 
Croxton, East and "West Wretham, Bridgham, Poudham, and 
Lrettenham ; and the importance, therefore, of that supply, in 
such a district, can scarcely bo over-rated. In former days so 
much interest was taken in this one pool that, about harvest time, 
many people would come from long distances, to see whether the 
waters of Pingmere were high or low, these pilgrimages having a 
special reference to the jirice of corn. If Pingmere was full the 
price of wheat would go up ; but would fall with the fall of its 
waters. As a guide to the prospects of a wet or dry season, these 
auguries taken from the Pingmere basin were no doubt correct ; 
but the agricultural visitors to this watery oracle must have been 
sadly depressed, when in 1859, they found the entire Mere dry as 
the suiTounding heath. In that summer Mr. Piuger walked 
across it in all directions, and a hole dug in the middle, about four 
feet deep, supplied no water. It is a singular fact, however, that a 
small pit hole, which was dug out some fifty j*ards from the basin 
of the IMere, and close to the Thetford road, was soon filled with 
■water, and supplied all the sheep throughout that season. Mr. S. 
Gayford, of Wretham, who had this pit made, and which Avas 
full of water when I saw it, had also another made in the enclosure, 
on the further side of the !Mei*e, on rising ground, and here also 
■water ivas found, although the Mere remained perfectly dry. On 
the other hand, in some wet seasons, the Avaters of Pingmere have 
not only filled the basin but have flowed over the road, till horses 
could stand knee deep, and then, flooding the level heath, have been 
known to extend themselves for nearly three mUes, down to the Poud- 
