that effect are circulated by persons of little information on the subject.

The present is, perhaps, a fitting opportunity to speak of the local traditions, or rather notions of the moor-land inhabitants, respecting these antique remains, to them generally so inexplicable, but which even a mere keeper of sheep and oxen cannot behold without forming some conjecture. The hut-circles, by far the most numerous of any, they generally account for by the supposition of their having been places for the securing of cattle by night, at the time when the "forest" was infested with wolves, and other beasts of prey, to prevent their straying from their keepers. Before the division of the moor by inclosures, termed "takes," the stone walls of which often traverse it for miles, there must have been some care requisite to prevent this mischance, and boys and others were employed in the summer season to watch them while pasturing on the undivided hills; but that the "hut-circles" constructed with any view to the impounding of cattle, is an idea quite at variance with the probabilities suggested by a real acquaintance with the subject.

were

The pillar-stones, still called by their Celtic name, maen, or men, here pronounced man, and plural men, afford by that means an equivocal interpretation. The appellation is considered by the inhabitants of the moor, as given to these tall obelisk-like stones, from their aptitude to be mistaken at a distance, in the twilight or through a mist, for a human being. Some old moormen described them to us as places for execution in ancient times, for "those who broke the laws of the forest;" and they often name such high upright stones "the stone-gallows" or "gibbet." Others assert them to have been set up as boundary marks; the fact being that similar stones are frequently placed as indications of boundaries; and even the Druidical pillar does some

II

times come to be included in the line of such boundary, but an experienced eye can discriminate between them, and in particular where the maen is connected with circles, avenues, &c.,-arrangements no way bearing upon the "boundary question." Often too, those who assert them to be limitary stones, are quite unable to state of what they mark the limits.

The circles and avenues are, by the same explicators, assigned to a various origin. By many they are supposed to have marked the spots where public games, especially that of "hurling," were practised. An idea prevalent in other parts of the country where Druidical remains are to be found, as testified by the appellation of the "hurlers," applied to three adjoining circles of upright stones in the parish of St. Cleer, in Cornwall, together with their being a party of men thus transformed, for the offence of pursuing their sport on the sabbath-day. Perhaps, however, in comparatively modern times, these spots may really have served as the rendezvous of country people for the pursuit of their holiday diversions. Others imagine them to be places of interment, or where battles were fought; and one old man told us that "some folks would not like to visit them after dim, as people (meaning spirits,) walked there, but for his part he thought nothing about such things." Another, who seemed much more intelligent than his compeers, expressed an opinion, probably nearer the truth than most others, however he came by it, "that they were places where people used to go out to worship, and say their prayers, before any churches were built." But the most remarkable declaration was that made, on one occasion, by a turf-cutter, who came up while we were closely examining a curious circle, situated near an avenue of upright stones. On our asking his opinion as to their purport, he at first hesitated, looking dubiously at us, and then with a very

significant tone and expression of countenance, replied, "that he was quite certain no man could find it out ;" "nor" he added with yet greater emphasis, 66 no woman

either!"

This was not the only occasion on which, during our various rambles over the moor, in exploration of its remains of old, that our researches were looked upon with suspicion, though this was the only instance, I believe, in which that suspicion seemed attached to a desire for the attainment of forbidden knowlege. The more general supposition seemed to be, that we were seeking among these moss-grown stones and mysterious relics for what?-Gold! Yes! the traditions of the moor foster the dear conceit that hallows alike to men's apprehension, the magic caves of Istakhar, and the else unlegended kistvaens of Dartmoor! It is here fondly believed, and delightedly told (for who does not speak delightedly of Gold?) that in old days vast treasures were hoarded up in these places, for which they appear so convenient: that the kistvaens or tombs were set up to contain such deposits; and that the circles and other memorials of the kind, denote spots where the precious possessions lay, or may even still lie concealed! As all the kistvaens have long since been rifled of their contents, whatever those contents might be, and the cairns have evidently been subjected to a rigorous search, it is plain that the notion of their concealing something worth seeking after, is of old date. If you inquire of your informants, when and by whom the spoliation was effected, they reply variously,-many assigning the damage to the rapacity of the miners, who at one period were very numerous on the moor; while others allege that the mischief was perpetrated during the lawless ages of the "civil wars -a great epoch with rustics generally; and when they are pressed about the precise era, usually give for answer-"back in the time of one

of the Henrys." A certain vague idea of a mystical or magical origin, seems connected with all these tales of treasure. In these days of incredulity, it is difficult to obtain, even from moorland hinds or dames, any direct explanation concerning the supernatural character of these valuables; but there secretly lingers both a tradition and a belief of it. They certainly think that no good fortune could possibly attend the possession of any portion of this earth-hidden gold, and as proof relate, among others, the legend of a Vicar of Widdecombe-inthe-moor, who in days of old, once set forth with certain of his companions, to make a general attack upon the old graves of Dartmoor, in search of their envied store. After a highly successful expedition, he returned laden with spoil; but the consequences were terrible. On entering his house a mighty explosion ensued,-to the offending priest the very "crack of doom," for his house "was blown to atoms, and he himself, with all his illgotten spoils, buried in the ruins!"

Besides the vestiges of Celtic antiquity, there exist on the moor several of a later date, and to which some interest may be attached, such as crosses placed as "forest" boundaries; or on the commons in the vicinity, near routes leading toward the former monastic establishments of the neighborhood. Of the first kind are Nun's Cross and Syward's Cross, a little to the south of Tor-Royal House; and near Fox-tor are the remains of a cross, and of the rude steps on which it stood. The spot is called, on the moor, "Deadman's Tomb," and tradition records it as the place where Child, of Plymstock, perished in a snow-storm, while hunting in the forest. This legend of Child is one of the most noted of those relating to Dartmoor,-it is celebrated by its legendists, and sung of by all its poets; and most of the dwellers of the hills, and their borders, may remember it as a tale, with which, from their in

fancy, they had been familiar. The cross at Fox-tor is believed to have been set up as a memorial of the place on which his body was found,-perhaps through the gratitude of the monks, who, according to peculiar belief, obtained his wealthy possessions in reward for his interment within their holy precincts.

The spot itself is as wild and lonely as imagination can conceive; and it is a curious circumstance that exactly beside the fragments of the cross, are the remains of one or more kistvaens; thus associating together the funeral memorials of a widely separated and dissimilar age, race, and religion, side by side, in equal neglect and decay!

Another curiosity of Dartmoor is Wistman's Wood, situated by the side of the Dart, beneath Longford-tor; it is the remnant of an ancient and much more extensive growth of the same description of trees-stunted oaks, which once occupied the valley both above and below the present wood, as is shown by stumps and fragments yet to be found among the rocks. It seems almost as if nature designed to show by this specimen, in what unpropitious situations she can nourish vegetable existence. These trees, if trees they may properly be called, are very low, old, and moss-grown; their hoary trunks rising from between blocks of granite that barely yield them space to stand, or rather seem to support them in their places. The spot is, however, one of wild and romantic aspect, like Ossian's "joy of grief," "pleasant though sorrowful." "Age," says the Bard of Morven, "is dark and unlovely," but this is not altogether true of the oaks of Wistman's Wood; for in a summer-day, when all the moor beside is bare, and burning, and shadowless, beneath the noon-tide sun, there is here shade and song, the glancing flight of the butterfly, and hum of bees in myriads, allured by the abundance of honeysuckles and other flowers that fill