The Argosy — page 315: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

204 A Drive to the Land's End. Parlour, Drawing-room, &c. Some of them are less innocently christened ; conspicuous amongst these, “‘ The Devil’s Throat,” ‘ The Devil’s Bellows,” ‘‘ The Devil’s Frying-pan:” names rather calculated to make the hair stand on end, to intimidate the nervous, and cause them to fly precipitately ftom a spot so unhallowed. “The Devil’s Bellows ” is a hole in the rock, through which the wind rushes upwards in an immense shower of spray: and verily the force is terrific. The ‘“‘ Post-Office” is a long slit, upon which if a pocket handkerchief or sheet of paper be placed it will presently be sucked in out of sight, to re-appear after a pause with a tremendous rush and whirl, that sends it high into the air. In a rocky nook, the guide pointed out a cormorant upon itsnest. It appeared a very small bird at such a height, and was looking down upon us, stretching its long neck with a gesture half humorous and comical. It is always there: a sentinel guarding the fortress. After making the round of the rocks, we turned for a few moments’ rest into the small cottage at the foot of the cutting, where the neat old woman who keeps it announces herself to the world on a signboard as ‘‘Mrs. Roberts’s accommodation rooms for visitors,” and, in the season, drives a thriving trade in photographs and gingerbeer. Then climbing the steep ascent, we dismissed the guide, took our seats thankfully in the carriage, and pursued our way towards Penzance. ‘This was to be our second day’s destination. For some distance the road led through the cheerless downs we had traversed yesterday; but after awhile we branched off and entered picturesque lanes, with hedges on either side, fresh, green, and ferny. Occasionally we passed through a village, where the cottagers rushed to their doors to take a look at the carriage and drop a curtsey to Z., illustrious and imposing in appearance as he is learned and great in mind. All looked poor and destitute, but for the most part clean and neat. | After a considerable drive we reached Marazion, and here caught a first view of St. Michael’s Mount. Its picturesque aspect on approacli- ing is very remarkable. A great rock rising out of the sea, covered with grass and furze: tapering gradually up from the base, much in the form of a sugar loaf: the summit crowned by the abbey, an ancient building of the exact nature suited to the mount. From Marazion it is possible to walk across to the Mount at low water, a distance of some four hundred yards: though the road is stony and slippery. So that St. Michael’s Mount is an island only when the tide is rising. Leaving this for another day we drove on towards Penzance, the sea to our right hand ; to our left a fertile, almost luxuriant valley, bounded by hills. At the entrance to Penzance the houses were old and wretched looking: a part of the town dating as far back as the days of the Phoenicians: when King Solomon sent ships over to Cornwall for (E(0) m CONMIGO