Welsh Journals

260 CYMRU FU. August 25th, 1888. OUNCE POUND ANCIENT «3 MODERN. lb. In addilmn to the above accurnte methods Ihere were the following conjectural or " rougli and rendy " metliods:— Four grains of wheatequ*l one pen. Four peas equal one acoi n. Four acorns equal one pigeon's egg. Four pigeon's eggs equal one hen's e^g. Four hen's eggs equal one gonse's egg. Four goose's eggs equal one swan's egg. (To be continued.) AUGUST 25, 1888. NOTES. TRAVELLING IN WALES IN 1820.—(ante, May 19,June 30,1888).—I continue the extraets fmm the M.S. diary in my possession :— " Saturday, Oct. 5, 1820, Tenby.—The sands at Tenby are delightful, but tliey seem to be the only agremens of the place for the open air; there are neither walks nor rides in the town or out of it except on the sands. It is said to be a good winter residence for quiet people of siriall fortune, cheap and cozey, with balls, cards, private parties, and, as Matthews has it, • all that kind of thing.' There are some bits of ruins about the town. It is of Flemish origin, and seems to have been surrounded by an embaitled wall, with numerous towers. Some frngments of acastle stand on a rock which forms the outer side of the harbour, and on another curious de- tached rock, which stands a little way from it on the sands, and is surrounded by the sea at high water, is a singular lofty opening wiih something in the form of a Gothic arch. It is amazing how fast the tide comes in, and how soon it covers the sands. One might be easily intercepted by linger- ing too far out. " Sunday, Oct. 6.—We set off at 11 for Carmarthen, retracing our steps by Coldblow and St. Clear's, 29 miles. The Lion is a good inn, well siiuated, close to the harbour. We wished to have gone direct to Swansea without going round by Carinarthen, but. there is no other ìoad, in consequence of the estuaries of several rivers which indent the coast in this direction. Going down the street of Tenby I observed a number of men in their best cloihes, principnlly black. I at first thought it was for Sun- day, but seeing a woman among them with tray and glasses in one hnnd and a bottle in the other, I stopt (being then on foot to ense the horses in ascending a ííill at the end of llie town) to inquire the meaning of it, when one of the inen informed me they were there to attend a funeral, and that it was the custom to as9emble before the door of the deceased, and to be served with wine and warm ale in the street, before the body was broughl out of the house. It, is a Flemish custom, I suppose. I never heard of it anywhere else in England. Something of the kind prevails in Scot- land, but it is there in the house, and I believe sometimes, if not always, after the int.erment. The wliole road from Tenby to Coldblow is bleak and uninteresting—coal, peat, few houaes, and few trees. " Monday, Oct. 7.—Carmarthen to Pont y Dulas, 19 miles. Nothing at all intercsting ou the road. Breakfasted at Pont y Dulas, a brieht house, nice and clean enou»h. Swansea, Mackworth Arms, said in ilie books to be the best inn in the Principality. We found it the worst and the dearest. We aitempted to go to the Mumbles and Oystermouth Gistle, but the sands were imprac- table fora carriage, and we had to relinquish the expediiion. I ot>served, however, th-it t.lie whole coast beynnd Swansea is extremcly well wooded, even to the water'sedge, particularly Oystermouth Castle, belonying to a General Wond. tíwansea is tlie best town we have seen in Wales. One very good wide street, witli respectable sliops on eacli side. Theotherstr. eisalso good,all wiih side pavemenis. The hay is superb, 21 miles across. I can easily imagine it to resemble the Bay of Naples. Fine extensive sands for riding, walking, and bathing. The equestiiiin must, however, know how to steer clear of quick sands. The lodging houses are well situated, facing the bay, and in full enjoy- ment of sea air, whicli is the only air the good people of England are not afraid to admit into their liouses, or allnw to blow upon tlieir persons at all times of the day and night. The haibour at Swansea is excellent; defended by two long piers running out in a semi-circular form, so as to allow of a eompar!itively narrow opening for the entrance of ships which can go up the river for a mile anda half." Wrexham. Gwenynkn Gwynedd. (To be continued.) QUERIES. ENGLISIl PROVERBS WITH A WELSH STRAIN.—Last week's issue of Tit-Bits contained the statement that the phrase " To get your monkey up" is connected with the Welsh " mwng " (the mane) angry animals erecting their mane. How far is this correct, and are there other instances of English proverbs or sayings witli a Welsh strain in their composition? Llanelly. Arthub Mee. WELSFI BIBLüS.—On page 10 of the preface to the second volume of the Myfynan Arcliaiology (Denbigh edition) it is said :— " Welsh Bibles were taken out of thechurches and burnt, as we have it recorded, and English ones ordered to be used in the room of ihem." Can any contributor to Cymru Fu say whether such a barbarous act was committed, and if so, where I can find it recorded ? Carmarthen. David Williams.