290 TRANSACTIONS OF THE PLYMOUTH INSTITUTION. 
Bid thy wild rivers, from each mountain source, 
Rushing in joy, make music on their course ! 
Thou, whose sole records of existence mark 
The scene of barbarous rites, in ages dark, 
And of some nameless combat ; hope's bright eye 
Beams o'er thee in the light of prophecy ! 
Yet shalt thou smile, by busy culture drest, 
And the rich harvest wave upon thy breast ! 
Yet shall thy cottage smoke, at dewy morn, 
Rise, in blue wreaths, above the flowering thorn ; 
And, midst thy hamlet shades, the embosomed spire 
Catch from deep-kindling heavens their earliest fire." 
These lines, written by Mrs. Hemans, obtained a prize, not 
from an agricultural association, but from a society formed with 
the ostensible purpose of cultivating literature and art. 
This evening, however, we are more interested with the past 
and present of the Moor than with predictions as to its future. 
BOUNDARIES AND AREA. 
The Moorland Plym, as I would define it, commences at the 
junction of the Plym and the Meavy at Shaugh Bridge, and ends 
at Plym Head. Its valley, including those of all tributary streams 
which join this length of river, is bounded by a line starting at 
Shaugh Bridge, and running thence up the ridge to Shaugh 
Beacon ; thence in a fairly straight line, but with a slight curve 
near Hawks Tor, to Blackaton Cross, and, passing through the 
big pond above Leemoor, to Shell Top. 
At this point the boundary turns to pass over the high and 
swampy land midway between Erme Head and Shave rcombe 
Head. From thence to Broad Rock the boundary of the Plym 
valley is identical with that of Shaugh parish, which it leaves at 
Broad Rock to sweep round Plym Head to Caters Beam. Return- 
ing on the north side of the river, through Eylesbarrow and past 
the disused tin mine, near the old blowing-house, through Whitten- 
knowle Rocks, to the south of Gutter Tor, taking in with a 
sweep a large portion of Ringmoor, to Brisworthy Plantation, 
across Wigford Down to the top of Dewerstone Hill, and down 
the slope of this hill to Shaugh Bridge once more. 
The boundary-line thus indicated is about fifteen and a half 
miles in length, and encloses an area of thirteen and a quarter 
square miles. 
