A Week at the Lizard, by the Author of 'Botanical Rambles'.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1848 Excerpt: ... 143 CHAPTER IV. The Balk.--Ravens' Hugo.--Dolor Hugo.--The Frying-pan.--Cadgxvith.--Stint Rumon.--Conflict between a man and a conger.--Sunfish.--Ynys-head.--Poltesco.--Kennack Cove.--Ground seine.--Sting-fish, Red Mullet, Turbot.--Blackhead. Resuming our survey of the coast at Penvoose, it becomes necessary that we should take boat, in order to explore the most interesting objects which here present themselves. The expedition is attended with no danger, provided that the sea be quite calm: otherwise, it is so perilous as to be impracticable. The fishermen, indeed, proceed to sea when the weather is very stormy, but their occupation takes them to a distance from the cliff, whereas, our track lies along the base of the cliff; and in order to see to advantage the natural curiosities of this portion of the coast, we must approach to within a few feet of the rocks, or even land on them. Proceeding in a south-easterly direction, we pass under the Balk, a lofty cliff which terminates in a peaked mass of rock, and the face of which is precipitous from the falling away of the loose stone. A winding path on either side leads down to a sandy cove, and here may be found some of the most beautiful varieties of serpentine, spotted with bright red and spangles of diallage. Stone of the same character runs inland to a considerable distance, and frequently crops out to the surface. Masses have been taken from hence, and made into pillars, chimney-pieces, &c, for which purposes it is well adapted, from its not being so liable to crack as some of the other varieties. One cannot go more than a few yards in this direction, without opening on a fresh view, so indented are the cliifs, and so fantastic the rocks. Under Cam-barrow, a projecting rock makes a natural archway, throug...