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different, but not far distant, sources, and, after their union, pouring themselves into Purthin river, which likewise receives Tragath, and conveys its collected waters into the Neath. Augmented by such copious contributions, the Neath river rolls through its vale in a body, and with a force that is truly majestic. The number of cascades in every direction, within 3 or 4 miles of this place, is so great, that it is difficult, and, perhaps, unnecessary, to visit them all. Neath, Melltè, Tragath, and Purthin, have each of them one, besides the remarkable cavern through which the Melltè runs ; and Hepste has five, not to mention the three on the Glamorganshire rivers that join the Neath between Pont Neath Vaughan, and the sea. Those on the Tragath, Hepste, and Melltè, comprise the boldest and most characteristic features; forming a portion of as sublime and romantic a scene, as can well be conceived in this or any other country: indeed, this vale, extending from the town of Neath to beyond Pont Neath Vaughan, comprises one of the finest scenes in South Wales. Notwithstanding that it is thus, as it were, environed by the finest and most productive rivers, and situated among scenes of such unrivalled beauty, this calm, placid retreat, is almost unknown to anglers. In our frequent visits, we never saw or heard of any one engaged in pursuits similar to our own. About ten years ago, however, a very worthy "brother of the angle" (no fly fisher, by the by), stumbled upon this oasis in the desert, and found ample employment for about five weeks, in attending to his four rods, laid down together; the fish (trout and sewin) taking as fast as he could re-bait the hooks. He used brandlings, caddis, and gentils. It was in the month of July, and there had been much previous rain. The greatest weight of fish taken in any one day was 35 pounds." (Hansard.) Neath 12 m.

On the road to LLANDOVERY, to the l. is Llanfaes, a parish forming the suburbs of the town of Brecon, though formerly it was detached, and called Llanddewi-yn-y-maes (St. David's in the field). The church contains nothing attractive in its exterior, yet the building is light and neat; consisting of a chancel, nave, and tower, at the w. end, in which are four bells. Its interior is ceiled and flagged, the seats painted and numbered ; over the entrance into the steeple, is a gallery. The inscription mentioned in a MS., in the Harleian collection, is nearly effaced, and the stone broken, so that only the two first and part of the third and last words can be read. The inscription was "HIC JACET IEVAN VAB IOHAN VAESON CUJUS ANIME PROPICIETUR DEUS: AMEN." There are alms-houses here, with a portion of garden ground attached to each, about 100 yards nearer to the town than the church, given by one of the family of Games, of Newton, for twelve female decayed housekeepers of the town of Brecon. Another receptacle for the unfortunate is situated upon the banks of the Tarell, in this parish, i. e., the county gaol, secured by a strong outward wall. To Llanspyddyd, 1 m., formerly written Llanspytty, a house of entertainment for guests, an hospitium much different from our inns in modern times, where good refreshment for man and horse was to be had without expense. church is close to the turnpike-road, surrounded by venerable yews, and though not ceiled, it is well flagged, and the seats in good repair; it consists of a nave only, and on the outside is a small shed, containing a bell. The gravestones in the church are numerous, and a headstone in the churchyard bears the name Gustavus Adolphus John, of Llanllwny, Carmarthenshire, who died 1765, aged 40. There is a stone in the churchyard, under which the tradition of the country informs us Brychan Brecheiniog was buried. It is on the s. side of the church, measuring 3 ft. high; near the top is a cross within a circle. Aberbran-fawr, 2 m. a seat of the

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junior branches of the house of Abercamlais, was raised many centuries prior to that mansion. Upon a hill above Aberbrân, called Twyn-y-Gaer, are the vestiges of a small British camp, and in the vale below, at the fall of a small brook running by Capel Bettws into the Usk, was Einon Sais's castle, of which not a stone remains. In 1738 Bettws Chapel became ruinous and was repaired, after a lawsuit, by the parishioners. About 1789 it had become dilapidated again, when the late Mr. Philip Williams of Penpont, rebuilt it nearly at his own expense, erected a wall round the chapel yard, and planted evergreens with flowering shrubs. It wants only an elegant spire to make it a perfect subject for the pencil. On the w. side is a vault belonging to the Penpont family. Penpont and Abercamlais, the former is the residence of Penry Williams, Esq., lord-lieut. of the county. 3 m. beyond Aberbrân, 1 m. to the l., is Devynock, or Dyfynog, from Cynog, the first founder, and son of Medrod ab Cawdraf ab Caradog: probably the latter was the second saint to which this church was dedicated. It consists of 2 aisles; a strong well-built tower contains 2 bells. The monuments and inscriptions are few. The churchyard is next to Llanfrynach in extent, and the tombs and gravestones numerous. The pernicious custom of burying within the walls was very properly discontinued about the year 1786. Besides Sir John Davy's benefaction for the erection of houses for 5 poor people, a house for a schoolmaster, and a school-room, there are several others recorded upon a table placed in the dilapidated entrance into the church. It was to protect travellers and the conquerors of Brecknockshire against the incursions of the barbarians of the forest that Rhyd-y-brew Castle was erected during the reign of Edward III. It is situated upon a small knoll, upon the w. side of the Cilieni, near its fall into the Usk. It seems to have consisted of a tower only surrounded with a walled court. The name of the farm on which it stands is Castel-dû, the Black Castle; or the dark hole or dungeon where the robbers from the mountains were confined and frequently executed without trial. Having crossed the Usk, Llwyncyntefin lies on the r. 3 m. near which is Capel Rhyd-y-brew, originally built for the accommodation of the family of Llwyncyntefin; it is now more valuable than the living from the products of a coal mine. Cross the Clydach river, 1 m.; to Trecastle, 11⁄2 m. This place is considered as a ward of the borough of Brecon, and as forming part of the town of Llywel, though it is distant from that church and village about 1 m.; it consists of one straggling street formed of thirty or forty houses, remarkable for nothing but a good inn. It is divided by a brook called Llogyn or Halogyn. On the other side of this rivulet are some cottages and land, called Tre'r Escob, or Bishopstone. Though not a market town, Trecastle has fairs on Jan. 17, April 5, May 21, July 2, Aug. 14, Oct. 14, Nov. 13, Dec. 14. The Black Mountain, or Mynydd bwlch y groes, towering above the village, N., is a leading object in the scenery. It is forked like Mount-denny, from which flow numberless rivulets, which fall into the river Gwydderig in its way to the Tawe, as the latter winds upon the N. side of the mountains; while the Usk along the s. receives all the streams that fall upon that side. In front of the inn, the site of the castle may be distinguished. The vale of the Tawe might be conveniently visited from this place. This stream rises in Llyn-y-Van between the two lofty summits of Ban Brecheiniog and the Ban Sir Gaen. This is a fine lake of beautifully transparent water, in the form of a parallelogram, nearly a mile in length, and about ninety-six feet in depth. The sombre aspect of the dark red precipitous rocks that form the eastern boundary of this extensive sheet of water, and the general air of sterility which characterises all the surrounding objects, are finely contrasted with the high state of cultivation which embellishes the lower grounds of its vicinity. Though the situation is so elevated that the snow remains unmelted upon the shore for the greater portion of the year, this lake abounds with trout and eels of superior quality. When a strong breeze ruffles the surface of Llyn-y-Van, the rise of the fish is almost incredible, and can be compared only to violent rain, or the effect that would be produced by casting handfuls of gravel upon its surface. We once spent an entire day on its wild, rocky shores, and were, for that period at least, perfectly satiated with sport. The trout threw themselves out of the water in summersets, by hundreds at once; and the effect was most singular, as their golden spotted sides flashed and glittered in the sunbeams that occasionally broke through the gloom which overspread the atmosphere. Fortunately for the lover of angling, from the shallow rocky bottom of this lake near the shore, it is useless to attempt dragging with a net, while its great depth towards the centre, would render any similar method of fishing equally unprofitable, even could a boat be conveyed to the lofty rugged mountain hollow in which it is situated. The trout are therefore propagated in immense numbers, undiminished by the successful devices adopted for their destruction in waters less difficult of approach, and they consequently, for the most part, die of old age; very few persons being willing to encounter the toil and fatigue of the ascent. In the grousing season, a tent is generally erected on the shores of Llyn Van, and the sportsmen occasionally vary their pursuits, by angling when the breeze is sufficiently strong for the purpose. In stormy weather its surface is greatly agitated, and the fish are then often thrown ashore in considerable numbers. The best road to ascend the Van mountain, is either from Llandovery in Carmarthenshire; or from Devynock, near Brecon. "- Hansard.

N. from Trecastle, a range of hills occurs, connected with those of Epynt, intersected by two valleys from N. to E. Mr. Theoph. Jones says that, "The Via Julia, from Caerleon to Carmarthen unquestionably intersected the parish of Llywel, from E. to w." He thinks it advanced on the s. side of the Usk from Aberbran, and of Towy till it reached Carmarthen. "In Llywel I think it proceeded nearly along the turnpikeroad called the admirals, from its having been suggested and planned by the late admiral Lloyd of Dan yr allt, and there appears to me to be clear vestiges of it upon several parts of the mountain, and particularly at Tal-ysarn, and so on to Llŷs Brychan in the parish of Llangattoc, in Carmarthenshire." Others say this road passes Rhyd-y-brew, and Trecastle, across the mountain, by the "Black Cock" public-house, to Llandovery, but I never could discover the least trace of a causeway upon this line. Antiquaries have adopted the latter opinion from a supposed miliary upon the mountain and the camp at Llanfair-y-bryn, near Llandovery. The stone referred to by Strange and engraved in the Archæologia, vol. iv., is said to have been dug up from the top of Mynydd Trecastell, Trecastle mountain, near the "Heath Cock" public-house. Gough gives the inscription thus: "Imperatori nostro Marco Cassiano Latino Postumo Pio Felici Aug.," which may mean anything the reader pleases. It was removed in 1767 at the expense of a Mr. Latham, supervisor of excise, to Llandeilo fawr, but the words IMP and CASSIANO are now only legible. On quitting Trecastle for Llandovery, the vale of the Usk is deserted. Pass the village of Llywel, 1m. 1f. The church, according to Giraldus Cambriensis, was burnt about the latter end of the eleventh century, by a contending enemy. The present fabric consists of a nave and chancel only, with a strong ower at the w. end, containing four bells. The rood loft remains.

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On this road, a charmingly wooded dingle is entered, with the brawling stream on the 1. working its way over a rugged bed of rocks. Cross the Nant y Meirch Brook, to the "Heath Cock" public-house, 3 m. Gudderig, devolving from the hills, works its noisy way by the side of the road, till it falls into the Bran, 1 m. before its confluence with the Tawe, below Llandovery. At the distance of 1 m. a fine plain is disclosed stretching both to the r. and 1. to a great extent; through this winds the pastoral Towy, which gives the name of the vale. Lime, in this district, is the commonest manure. The houses are whitewashed. Y Felindre 4 m. 3 f.

LLANDOVERY, & m.

The vale of the Towy is singularly beautiful. It displays scattered white cottages, depositories of lime, and the villages Capel Collwyn and Tywyn. "The greatest curiosity of this extraordinary neighbourhood is the Cribarth lime-rock, which is elevated to an immense height. On reaching the level of the vale, the sinuous river assumes very charming features. The confined descent to Henneuadd by the tramroad, is romantically overhung; where a view from the wooden bridge is uncommonly beautiful, particularly by moonlight. There is an incommodious public-house just by. The present head of the Swansea canal is at this place. At Capel Coelbren, between Henneuadd and Ystradfelltè are the remains of a Roman road."- Malkin.

ANGLING STATIONS in the vicinity of Brecon : Cray, 94 m. at its junction with the Usk; Crickhowel, 13 m. on the Usk, celebrated for trout and salmon; Battle, 23 m. at the confluence of the Ysew and Usk; Dyffryn Honddû, 7 m.; Devynock, 9 m. at the confluence of Lewin and Usk; Llandyfaelog-Vach, 2 m.; Llandeilo-'r-Van, 12 m., three brooks here; Maescar, 7 m. on the Usk; Pont-Neath-Vaughan; Merthyr Cynog, 8 m. between the Yscir and Honddû; Penpont, 5 m.; Pont-Van, 2 m. Talgarth, 5 m.; Trallong, 5 m.; Ystradfellte, 15 m. Fish directly under the waterfalls.

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BRIDGEND, or PENYBONT-AR-OGWR, is an irregular little town in Glamorganshire, situated in a beautiful and fertile district upon the opposing banks of the river Ogmore, the hamlet of Oldcastle occupying the E., and that of Newcastle the w. bank of that river, over which there are two bridges; one is an elegant structure. Bridgend contains some excellent shops. New houses have been erected, and the old ones modernised. In the vicinity are several villas. The situation of Newcastle, which forms a part of Bridgend, is prominent. The churchyard commands a fine prospect of the surrounding country.

The ride To LLANTRISSANT, through Coity, remarkable only for a dismantled castle, is pleasingly interspersed with trees and underwood. Its foundation is generally attributed to Peganus de Turbervile, one of Fitzhammon's knights.

Near the sixth mile-stone, at a curve in the road, the wide undulating vale of Cowbridge exhibits an extensive tract of beautiful fertility. On one of the high hills circumscribing the vale, that which sustains Penlline Castle appears pre-eminent. Rich pastures and meadows, intersected by tufted inclosures, embowered hamlets, and detached specks of whitened buildings, form a glance of considerable interest. Near Lantrissant is a well, containing water of a strongly repellant quality. Coychurch and Llanharan are rural and pleasing. In the parish of the former, or Eglwys Llangrallo, is CaerCaradoc, a mountain so called, probably from its having formed a military residence of that hero in domestic expeditions, or on his retreat after successful enterprises. Roman fragments appear upon the neighbouring Mynyth-y-Gaer. There was an extensive woollen manufactory carried on here, to encourage industry in the neighbourhood, but it did not answer the expectations of the proprietors. About the year 1808 the bards of Wales held their annual meeting, agreeably to ancient custom, upon an adjoining hill. A person of some fortune ridiculously suspected it to be a political meeting, raised a posse commitatis, and dispersed them. They, however, re-assembled at Caerphilly Castle, being a soil more congenial to their taste. Dr. Price, a moralist and political writer, also his nephew, G. C. Morgan, author of several valuable philosophical papers, were natives of this place.

"The Ogmore has always been distinguished for its salmon, and there are few rivers in Wales more productive of this fish. Notwithstanding every destructive engine that ingenuity can invent is made use of for their capture by the idle and dissolute population of Bridgend, the supply of salmon and sewin appears to suffer no diminution; and the skilful, persevering, fisherman need on no occasion return home with an empty pannier. From the commencement of the spawning season, at the latter end of September, until January, parties are engaged every moonless night in spearing salmon by torchlight, whilst roaming upon the shallow gravelly streams in search of a suitable spot for depositing their ova. On such situations they congregate to the number of twenty or thirty in a shoal, rooting up the bed of the river like hogs. The poachers, aware of their favourite haunts, assemble about midnight, and having kindled a small bundle of straw, by means of a tinder-box, one of the party holds the light over the water, being closely followed by the spearman, armed with a heavy trident, and behind walks a third person, carrying on his back a large supply of fuel, as, in windy nights especially, the straw is rapidly consumed. The instant that the surface of the stream becomes illumined by the torch, which renders every object, even the smallest portion of gravel, distinctly visible, the whole shoal of salmon dart towards the light, and the spearman, instantly selecting the largest fish, hurls his weapon with unerring aim, and, if an old hand, never fails of transfixing his scaly prey. He then immediately throws the fish upon the bank, and, quickly disengaging the spear with his foot, stands ready to repeat the blow. It frequently happens that, if he strike a large fish, the poacher is compelled to leap into the stream; for the salmon proves exceedingly strong in his element. These depredators proceed, in a similar manner, from station to station, until the approach of day warns them to depart." (Hansard.) On the 13th of August, 1838, 112 sewen were caught, at one haul, in this stream.

Mr. Skrine, leaving BRIDGEND on the r., ascended the summit of NewtonDown, whence is seen an enchanting prospect, containing features so varied and sublime, that it brought to his recollection some of the finest landscapes of Italy. Charmed with this view, which a declining sun displayed to the greatest advantage, he slowly descended to the village of PYLE, where he found an excellent inn.

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