The

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rivers.

* BRECKNOCKSHIRE. The county of Brecknock is bounded on the east by Monmouthshire and Herefordshire; on the north and north-west by Radnorshire and Cardiganshire; on the west by Carmarthenshire; and on the south by Glamorganshire, and part of Monmouthshire. Its form is somewhat elliptical; in length, about thirty-nine miles, in breadth, daries. twenty-seven, and in circumference about 109. The principal rivers are the Usk, which issues from the black mountains on the south-west side of the county, runs north till it reaches Trecastle, and then turning to the east, and passing Brecknock, leaves the county below Crickhowell: the Wye, which waters the north side of the county, leaves it at Hay, and enters Herefordshire: the Irvon, which has its source in the upper part of the hundred of Builth; and, after a course of no great length, falls into the Wye, a little above the town of Builth. The Tawe rises on the southern side of the black mountains, and enters Glamorganshire at Ystradgynlais, Principal whence it proceeds to Swansea, and falls into the Bristol Channel. Taf has also its source in Brecknockshire; but is an inconsiderable stream until it enters Glamorganshire. Other rivers of less note are the Groney, Honddu, Isker, Brane, Camalas, and Croy, which fall into the Usk; and the Dylas, Comaick, and the Wevesey, which empty themselves into the Wye; they all abound with fish, particularly the Usk and Wye, which are well stored with salmon and trout. The chief lake in Brecknockshire, and one of the largest in Wales, is Llynsavaddan, or more properly Llynsafeddan, the still or standing lake; which is called also by the names of Brecknock Mere, and Langorse Mere. It covers a surface of about five miles in circumference; is about two miles in length, and one mile in width. It has been stated to be from nine to twelve feet deep; but, in some places, it is forty or fifty. Fish of different kinds are found here Excellent in great plenty; especially pike, perch, and eels. Trout is excluded, probably by the presence of the pike. Tradition ascribes the formation of the lake to the following marvellous story, as recorded in the Harleian MSS. 6831:"A young man pays his addresses to the lady of Llynsafeddan, who rejects him on account of his poverty. He then robs and murders a carrier, bringing, and displaying to her his ill-gotten wealth, he urges again his suit, but was interrogated respecting the attainment of the property he had brought. He confesses to her the means under an injunction of secrecy, but still failed to comply, unless he repaired to the grave of the deceased and appeased his ghost. This he readily undertook, and on his approach, Marvellous a voice cried, Is there no vengeance for innocent blood?' when another answered 'Not until the ninth generation.' Satisfied to find the evil day long protracted, the lady marries him, and their issue multiply so quickly, that they live to see even the ninth generation; but the judgment not following, they made a great feast, when in the middle of their jollity, a mighty earthquake swallows up the whole generation, and their lands became covered with water." Brecknockshire is crossed by two ranges of mountains, which present some eminences of considerable elevation. The first, which is known by the denomination of the Eppynt-hills, rises on the north eastern confines of the county of Carmarthen; and proceeding in an easterly direction, terminates at Llyswen, on the banks of the Wye, after separating the greater part of the hundred of Builth from the other portion of the

fishing.

story.

Eppynthills.