Ceiniog Mawr - Pentre Voelas - The Old Conway - Stupendous Pass -The Gwedir Family - Capel Curig - The Two Children - Bread -Wonderful Echo - Tremendous Walker.
I WALKED on briskly over a flat uninteresting country, and in about an hour's time came in front of a large stone house. It stood near the road, on the left-hand side, with a pond and pleasant trees before it, and a number of corn-stacks behind. It had something the appearance of an inn, but displayed no sign. As I was standing looking at it, a man with the look of a labourer, and with a dog by his side, came out of the house and advanced towards me.
"What is the name of this place?" said I to him in English as he drew nigh.
"Sir," said the man, "the name of the house is Ceiniog Mawr.""Is it an inn?" said I.
"Not now, sir; but some years ago it was an inn, and a very large one, at which coaches used to stop; at present it is occupied by an amaethwr - that is a farmer, sir.""Ceiniog Mawr means a great penny," said I, "why is it called by that name?""I have heard, sir, that before it was an inn it was a very considerable place, namely a royal mint, at which pennies were made, and on that account it was called Ceiniog Mawr."I was subsequently told that the name of this place was Cernioge Mawr. If such be the real name the legend about the mint falls to the ground, Cernioge having nothing to do with pence. Cern in Welsh means a jaw. Perhaps the true name of the house is Corniawg, which interpreted is a place with plenty of turrets or chimneys. Amile or two further the ground began to rise, and I came to a small village at the entrance of which was a water-wheel - near the village was a gentleman's seat almost surrounded by groves. After I had passed through the village, seeing a woman seated by the roadside knitting, I asked her in English its name. Finding she had no Saesneg I repeated the question in Welsh, whereupon she told me that it was called Pentre Voelas.
"And whom does the 'Plas' belong to yonder amongst the groves?"said I.
"It belongs to Mr Wynn, sir, and so does the village and a great deal of the land about here. A very good gentleman is Mr Wynn, sir; he is very kind to his tenants and a very good lady is Mrs Wynn, sir; in the winter she gives much soup to the poor."After leaving the village of Pentre Voelas I soon found myself in a wild hilly region. I crossed a bridge over a river, which, brawling and tumbling amidst rocks, shaped its course to the north-east. As I proceeded, the country became more and more wild; there were dingles and hollows in abundance, and fantastic-looking hills, some of which were bare, and others clad with trees of various kinds. Came to a little well in a cavity, dug in a high bank on the left-hand side of the road, and fenced by rude stone work on either side; the well was about ten inches in diameter, and as many deep. Water oozing from the bank upon a slanting tile fastened into the earth fell into it. After damming up the end of the tile with my hand, and drinking some delicious water, I passed on and presently arrived at a cottage, just inside the door of which sat a good-looking middle-aged woman engaged in knitting, the general occupation of Welsh females.
"Good-day," said I to her in Welsh. "Fine weather.""In truth, sir, it is fine weather for the harvest.""Are you alone in the house?"
"I am, sir, my husband has gone to his labour.""Have you any children?"
"Two, sir; but they are out at service."
"What is the name of this place?"
"Pant Paddock, sir."
"Do you get your water from the little well yonder?""We do, sir, and good water it is."
"I have drunk of it."
"Much good may what you have drunk do you, sir!""What is the name of the river near here?""It is called the Conway, sir."
"Dear me; is that river the Conway?"
"You have heard of it, sir?"
"Heard of it! it is one of the famous rivers of the world. The poets are very fond of it - one of the great poets of my country calls it the old Conway.""Is one river older than another, sir?"
"That's a shrewd question. Can you read?""I can, sir."
"Have you any books?"
"I have the Bible, sir."
"Will you show it me?"
"Willingly, sir."
Then getting up she took a book from a shelf and handed it to me, at the same time begging me to enter the house and sit down. Ideclined, and she again took her seat and resumed her occupation.
On opening the book the first words which met my eye were: "Gad i mi fyned trwy dy dir! - Let me go through your country" (Numb. XX.
22).
"I may say these words," said I, pointing to the passage. "Let me go through your country.""No one will hinder you, sir, for you seem a civil gentleman.""No one has hindered me hitherto. Wherever I have been in Wales Ihave experienced nothing but kindness and hospitality, and when Ireturn to my own country I will say so."
"What country is yours, sir?"