rocks, and traversed by foaming torrents ; while others are marked by soft and smiling beauty. A.mong the former may bo mentioned the gorge at Pont Aberglaslyn, while Nant Gwynant, with its placid lake and verdant meadows, will serve as an illustration of the latter. The vales of Beddgelert and Llanberis, the former at the southern, and the latter at the northern base of Snowdon, have a world- wide reputation for beauty ; and the vale of the Conway, from Llanrwst to Conway, is a noble piece of scenery, backed as it is on its southern border by the
Snowdon range.The only river of importance is the Conway, which rises in Llyn Conway, in the S.E. corner of the county, and after separating Carnarvon from Denbigh in a nearly due north course of about 30 miles, falls into the sea at Conway. It is a tidal river, and is navigable for about 10 miles from Conway. The Seoint, a small stream, rises in Snowdon, and falls into the sea at Carnarvon.
The lakes are very numerous, and some of them of considerable size. The more important are the lakes of Llanberis (Llyn Peris and Llyn Padarn), to the north of Snowdon ; Llyn Ogwen, to the north of the Glyder Fawr ; Llyn Cwlyd and Llyn Eigiau, both to the north of Capel Curcg; Llyn Llydau on Snowdon; Llyn Cwellyn to the west, and Llyn Gwynant to the east of that mountain ; Llyniau Nant-y-Llef or Nantlle Pools, near Llanllyfni ; and Llyn Conway, already referred to.
The climate is cold and severe during the winter, except in the peninsular part of the county and on the sea-coast, where it is very mild. The arable land occupies not more than a third part of the whole surface ; and this is mostly in the vale of Conway, or in the neighbourhood of the sea. A small quantity of wheat is raised; but the principal cultivated crops are oats, barley, and potatoes. The alluvial deposit in some of the valleys forms a rich and fertile soil, which is chiefly employed as meadow land. Dairy and sheep-farming form the chief employment of the agricultural population ; and on the hills numbers of diminutive ponies are reared, which at two years old find a steady sale in the English market. Agriculture is not in a forward state, and has not been advanced by the success attending the mining industries of the county. In 1873 Carnarvon was divided among 6240 separate proprietors, 4610 of these owning holdings of less than an acre ; eleven holdings consisted of more than 5000 acres, and none ex ceeded 42,000 acres. On an average each holding contained 48 acres, the average of all Wales being 74 ; and the aver age rental of properties amounting to an acre and upwards was as high as 19s. 9d. per acre, owing to the presence of so many valuable mines.
The following tables will show the state of agriculture in the county in the years 1872 and 1875, and from these it will be observed that there is a general diminution of the acreage of crops but an increase in the numbers of live stock:—
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Year, Oats. Barley Wheat Green crops. J^a^ er 1872 13,786 9,101 2,033 9,134 35,418 1875 12,849 8,459 1,626 9,101 37,006 Teai Horses. Cattle, Sheep Pigs. 1872 7,064 46,981 218,881 21,002 1875 7,363 51,352 223,804 19,273
The county is as well served with railways as the mountainous character of the district will allow. The Chester and Holyhead line runs along the northern coast, and crosses to Anglesey by means of the Britannia Bridge over the Meuai Strait. From this line branches diverge up the valley of the Conway, and across the peninsula by Carnarvon to Pwllheli, &c. The Cumbrian line enters from the south at Portmadoc.
These means of communication and the numerous ports on its coasts, afford very great facilities for the transport of the important mineral products of the county.
Copper, lead, and slate are worked very largely, par ticularly the last, which is of the most valuable quality. For roofing, paving, and ornamental purposes it is exported in large quantities. In 1871, 4370 men were employed in the slate quarries. The chief owners are Lord Penrhyn, Mr Duff Smith, and the Welsh Slate Company.
The inhabitants, who all speak Welsh more or less, num bered in 1851 87,870 ; in 1871 they had increased 20 per cent., amounting to 106,121, of whom 51,874 were males and 54,247 females. Nearly the whole of Carnar vonshire is in the diocese of Bangor. It has a court of quarter sessions. It is represented in Parliament by one member for the county and one for the Bangor group of boroughs.
The principal towns are Bangor, population (1871) 9859 ; Carnarvon, 9449 ; Pwllheli, 3009 : and Llandudno, 2762.
Carnarvonshire was occupied by the important tribe of the Segontiaci, who were with difficulty subdued by Ostoriua Scapula and Suetonius Paulinus. During the Roman period it formed part of Britannia Secunda, and Conovium and Segontium have been identified as Caer Rhyn and Carnar von (Caer Seoint). Later it was part of the kingdom of Gwynnedd until Edward I. in 1277 restricted that division to the land of Snowdon proper. The early fortresses at Diganwy, Dinorwig, &c., as well as the later castles at Conway, Carnarvon, and other places, attest the warlike character of its inhabitants.
Carnarvon, the capital of the above county, a parlia mentary and municipal borough, occupies an area of 1897 acres, and is pleasantly situated on the eastern shore of Carnarvon Bay, in the Irish Sea, at the mouth of the Seoint, 210 miles north-west of London. It stands very nearly upon the site of Caer Seoint, the ancient capital of the Segontiaci, and owes its origin to Hugh Lupus, earl of Chester, who in 1098 fortified the place. The noble castle was commenced in 1284, and the common tradition that Edward II. was born in that year within its walls is now known to be unfounded, as they were at the date of his birth scarcely in existence. It occupies a large area on the west side of the town and is in the form of an irregular oblong, surrounded by walls and defended by thirteen polygonal towers. The Eagle Tower (Edward s reputed birthplace) is at the extreme west, and is of con- spicuous beauty and dominant height. A considerable portion of the town-wall near the castle is still entire. The parish church is nearly half a mile from the town. In the town itself there is a chapel of ease, and several large and commodious dissenting chapels. There are also a town and county hall, a training college for teachers, and handsome schools. The town also possesses assembly rooms and a theatre, and is resorted to as a sea-bathing place in summer. The port is used for the export of slates and copper ore from the quarries of Llanberis and Llanllyfni, but there is little manufacturing in the town itself. The borough has formed part of a district which has returned a member to Parliament since 1536. The Reform Bill added Bangor to the district, which now includes Carnarvon, Con way, Criccieth, Pwllheli, Bangor, and Nevin. The population of Carnarvon in 1851 was 8674, and in 1871, 9449 (males 4357, females 5092) ; the inhabited houses numbered 1975. There is a weekly market on Saturdays, and four fairs are held in the course of the year. The quarter sessions and assizes are held in the town.
included in the presidency of Madras. Though no ^longer
recognized as a political or administrative division, it is of
