*S2I.] Excursion through North Whiles. 203 
perpendicular,and somewhat pyramidal 
mass of dark rock, rising almost to a 
point, and forming the southern boun¬ 
dary of a deep and perilous hollow, at 
least four hundred feet in depth, in the 
centre of which is a black-looking cir¬ 
cular pool, called Llyn y cal, or the 
Pool of the Enclosure. It has been 
affirmed that Cader Idris was formerly 
a volcano, and that this hollow was its 
crater. How true this may be, we shall 
not now stop to enquire. Its appear¬ 
ance (we may remark) is favourable to 
the hypothesis. 
We soon found a well, situated on 
the northern declivity of the mountain ; 
and, opening our basket of provant , we 
seasone'd a very hearty meal with co¬ 
pious draughts of the pure and delicious 
beverage of this Cambrian helicon. Af¬ 
ter we had performed ample justice to 
the contents of the guide’s basket— 
Postquam exempta fames, et amor cotu- 
pressus edencli. 
we prepared to depart—the ladies with 
their former conductor and the guide, 
by the regular horse-road, and the re¬ 
mainder of us with Mr. W. by a shorter, 
though a more difficult path—the con¬ 
tinuation, namely, of the declivity 
whence the water of the well issues. 
This part of the mountain is known by 
the name of Llwybir Madyn, or the 
Fox’s Path; and well does it deserve 
its appellation, for very few bipeds who 
have traversed it once will venture 
down its craggy declivity a second time. 
It was certainly a miracle that we 
reached the bottom with our bones un¬ 
broken ; and as we looked up towards 
the spot we bad lately occupied, near 
its summit, we wondered at our teme¬ 
rity in daring to descend it. When we 
arrived at the bottom, we enjoyed the 
luxury of a comparatively level road 
during the remainder of our journey 
homewards; and having joined the 
ladies and their conductors, we again 
mounted our horses, and turned our 
backs on the towering rocks of the Fort 
ns, was used by the giant as a bed, being 
called to this day Bcdd Idris. Of the ex¬ 
istence of Idris we doubt not—of bis gi¬ 
gantic qualities we doubt stubbornly. He 
is mentioned in the Triads of the Isle of 
Britain, as one of the “ three sublime 
astronomers of Britain.” Probably be 
chose the top of Cader Idris for his obser¬ 
vatory, but why it should have been named 
Cader Idris, we know not.— Query. Whe¬ 
ther the present name of this mountain is 
not a corruption of Cedair Idris, or the 
Chair of Idris ? 
of Idris. Just before we descended the 
hill, at the south-western entrance to 
Dolgelley, we turned to take a parting 
look of the romantic scenes we had 
quitted ; and the Fox’s Path was point¬ 
ed out to us gleaming ruddily in the 
last lingering glow of the descending 
sun. 
The evening of the second day after 
our excursion to Cader Idris was ap¬ 
pointed for a voyage to Barmouth, a sea¬ 
port ten miles westward of Dolgelley. 
The tide, we were told, would 44 serve” 
about seven o’clock, and we were stre¬ 
nuously advised to go by water, that we 
might have an opportunity of viewing 
the magnificent scenery which the 
shores of the Mowthach present, from 
its junction with the Wnion at Llanell- 
tyd, to its confluence with Cardigan 
Bay at Barmouth. We quitted Dol¬ 
gelley, in company with our friend W. 
between six and seven o’clock, for 
44 The Stones,” a house by the river 
side, about two miles from the town, 
where boats may be procured at a mo¬ 
derate expence for the neighbouring 
port. When we arrived there, we found 
a gentleman and two ladies, rovers like 
ourselves, intending to proceed to Bar¬ 
mouth , and as the boat we had en¬ 
gaged was the only one ready for start¬ 
ing, we solicited the pleasure of their 
company, which was very readily grant¬ 
ed, and soon found ourselves sailing 
gently, for there was scarcely a breeze 
to fill our canvas, on cur way to Aber- 
maw.* The evening was delightful, and 
the sun, as he slowly descended behind 
the blue mountains in the west, cast 
with his departing beams a rich crimson 
glow on the calm waters of the Mow* 
thach. It was an evening for medita¬ 
tion—for communion with the purer 
part of the soul—for deep and delight¬ 
ful reflection; and the gentle calmness 
of the evening hour—the balmy serenity 
of the evening air—and the majestic 
scenery through which we glided, en¬ 
gendered emotions of a soothing and 
pleasing character. Our sail was found 
to be rather an incumbrance; it was 
accordingly furled, and the boatmen 
had recourse to their oars, the splash of 
which, and the soft rippling of the water 
on the shore, were the only sounds 
* Abermaw is tbe original name of Bar¬ 
mouth, and lias been anglicised into the 
latter. The natives still call it Bertnaw. 
Alter is prefixed to all Welsh towns situa¬ 
ted near the conflux of rivers, as Aber-yst- 
with, Abcr-Uovey, Aber-gelley, &c. 
which 
