rest, and quite upright. The magnitude and number of the rocky fragments in the Pass, some of which are sixty feet long, afford marvellous variations of colouring and outline. No scene of similar magnitude can be conceived more majestic than that presented by its lower end, where a solitary watch-tower-for centuries a sentinel, in times of danger-gives a finish to the fine lines of the landscape." The Cromlech, already referred to, afforded shelter for many years to an old woman named Hetty, who made it her habitation in the summer season, whilst she fed and milked her cows. The inclosures are yet occasionally used as a sheepfold. There are two excellent roads now formed through the Pass, one to Bangor and the other to Caernarvon.

This enchanting little village is situated on the London and Holyhead road. It comprises merely a large and commodious hotel, built by the late Lord Penrhyn, and conducted in excellent style, a small church, or chapel of ease, not in charge, to the rectories of Llandegai and Llanllechid, with a scanty number of pleasant cottages, adding beauty to the scene. The chapel is dedicated to St. Curig, a British saint or recluse, who had two other churches dedicated to him in Wales—one in Radnorshire, and the other in Cardiganshire. It is thought that this part of the county was much frequented by the Romans, on account of its slate-quarries, and valuable lead and copper mines. There are remains of a large Roman building belonging to the Duke of Ancaster (formerly part of the Gwydir property) between Capel Curig and Llanrwst, near a place called Bryn Gyfeilau (the Hill of the Smithy); and it is probable that a Roman road passed this way

from Trawsfynydd, Merionethshire (Pen-y-street), to Caer Rhûn (Conovium). "I distinctly traced," says Mr. Lysons, "the walls of one room, the dimensions of which were 60 feet by 20 feet, and another of 18 feet 6 inches square, in which were several short square pillars of stone, like those of the Hypocaust under the Feathers Inn at Chester." The hotel stands at the junction of three valleys, one of which leads to Nant Ffrancon, another to Llanberis, and the third to Bettws-y-Coed; and opens upon a pleasant garden neatly laid, and backed by a spreading plantation of timber. Sundry steps lead the visitor across the garden enclosure into the open plain, in which, close at hand, are two lakes, of unequal extent, on which a boat is kept for the accommodation of visitors. At the back of the hotel there is a beautiful rustic bridge, spanning one of the mountain-streams, a sketch of which is given in the following page. From this spot is a magnificent panoramic view. Looking over the lakes, the highest peak of Snowdon is seen towering into the clouds in the extreme distance. "The air of the place is solemn and lonely," says Roscoe, 66 especially should the traveller hear at the same time, as was the case when I viewed it, the sweet and simple note of the cuckoo, probably its last song before the return of another spring, reverberating

"Like an echo that had lost itself

Among the distant hills.""

MOEL SIABOD, whose height is 2378 feet, rises near the hotel, northward; the ascent is difficult, but it may be safely performed with a guide. On the side towards Bettws-y-Coed, it is exceedingly precipitous. The summit is covered in parts with immense masses of rock, and from it are views of Snowdon, Glyder Vawr, Carnedd Davydd, and Carnedd Llywelyn, including numerous lakes and rivers. On the east side of Moel Siabod is a lake called Llyn-y-Voel, from which rises one of the tributaries of the river Conway, and on the western side are two of larger extent. Beneath the mountain, also towards the east, and about five miles from Capel Curig, is DOLWYDDELAN CASTLE, one of the earliest fortresses in Wales. It is situated on a high rock, inaccessible on one side, and comprises two square towers. It was built about the year 500, was the residence of Jorwerth Drwyndwn, or the Broken-nose, and is said to have been the birthplace of Llywelyn the Great. Recent investigations render it

probable that this was the last stronghold in North Wales that resisted Edward I. In the royal roll of expenditure of that period, there appear items of payments to an earl, a knight, and a squire, for bringing news to the queen at Rhuddlan, where the army of reserve was stationed whilst Edward was pursuing his successes in the Snowdonian mountains, of the reduction of this fortress; and the date corresponds with the close of the resistance and capture of Davydd, brother of Llywelyn. The village of Dolwyddelan stands within a mile of the castle, and consists of only a few cottages.

RUSTIC FOOT-BRIDGE AT CAPEL CURIG, WITH SNOWDON IN THE DISTANCE.

The tourist may here conveniently determine whether he will proceed back to Caernarvon, and from thence mark his future line of route, as time and other circumstances may permit; whether he will pass onward, after viewing the fine scenery in the district of Capel Curig, through the enchanting mountain land of Pentre'r Voelas, Cernioge,