articles had appeared in the Penny Magazine (see Lord's Rake); in 1859 the late Professor Tyndall had written of Mickledoor in the Saturday Review, and more recently articles have appeared in the Pall Mall Gazette, by Mr. W. Brunskill and by Mr. H.A. Gwynne. The present writer contributed an article to the Alpine Journal of August 1892, and one containing very clear illustrations of 'back-and-knee' work and of an episode in the long climb on the Pillar Rock to the pages of Black and White, in June 1892, while numerous articles have appeared from time to time in such local papers as the Whitehaven News and the West Cumberland Times, and in the Manchester, Leeds, and Bradford press. Of guidebooks the only one of any value to climbers is Mr. Herman Prior's 'Pedestrian Guide.'

Any value which the present book may have is largely due to the excellent drawings of Mr. Ellis Carr, who most kindly came forward to fill the place left by the lamented death of Professor A.M. Marshall. Much assistance has been derived from sketches and photographs kindly lent, those of Mr. Abraham, of Keswick, being especially useful. For the valuable article on 'Chalk' I am indebted to Mr. A.F. Mummery, whose knowledge of the subject is unrivalled; while Mr. J.W. Robinson, of Lorton, has zealously assisted in all matters connected with Cumberland; and I must gratefully acknowledge help given in other ways by Mr. J.E. Morris and the Rev. C.J. Buckmaster.

CLIMBING
IN
THE BRITISH ISLES

ENGLAND

Alum Pot, the name of which is also found in such forms as Allen and Hellan, lies just west of the Midland Railway, about halfway between Horton and Ribblehead stations, and on the north-east side of Ingleborough. It is one of the most striking and most famous of the Yorkshire potholes, being an elliptical opening in the limestone, 120 ft. long and 40 ft. wide, with a perpendicular depth of 200 ft. The exploration of it was begun by Mr. Birkbeck of Anley in 1847, who, assisted by Prof. Boyd Dawkins and a large party including three ladies, made a complete examination in 1870.

Angler's Crag, on the south side of Ennerdale Water. The steep portion is about 300 ft. There are also some similar crags on Grike and Revelin, close by; but none of them are worth a long walk, and the only resting-place near is the Angler's Inn, at the foot of Ennerdale Water.

Apron-strings.—Throughout Scotland and the North of England the traditional explanation of large heaps of stones is that while some one (generally the Devil or Samson) was carrying the stones in his apron the strings broke and the stones fell in a heap. Many such heaps are to be found, bearing the name of 'apronful' or 'bratful,' which means the same thing. A good instance of the latter form is Samson's Bratful, in Cumberland, between the rivers Bleng and Calder. For another good instance see what is said about Wade's Causeway in Murray's Handbook for Yorkshire, at p. 206.

Aron.—So Wilkinson (in his 'Select Views') calls Great End. It may be that he misunderstood his guide, who was, perhaps, speaking at the time of Aaron Crags, which are on Sprinkling Fell, and would be in the line of sight to any one coming up from Borrowdale. In fact, the path to Sty Head passes not only Aaron Crags on the left, but also Aaron Slack on the right. It is, of course, tempting to suggest that Aron was the original Keltic name of Great End; but in Wales the name Aran is generally applied to mountains of very different appearance to Great End.

Arrowhead, a prominent rock in the Napes of Great Gable, being part of the ridge immediately west of Eagle's Nest. It was climbed on April 17, 1892, by a large party, including Messrs. Horace Walker, Baker, Slingsby, and others. In the following year, on the last day of March, this climb was repeated by Messrs. Solly, Schintz, Brant, and Bowen, who continued it right on to the top of the ridge. They kept rather more on the ridge itself than the former party had done on the way to the Arrowhead, and from that point the climb is along the crest of the ridge. It is not a difficult climb for an experienced party. The ridge has been called the Arrowhead Ridge.

ToList

THE ARROWHEAD
(South side of Great Gable)

Ash Crag, a rock in Ennerdale, near the Black Sail end of the Pillar Fell. It is the writer's belief that this is the rock which the poet Wordsworth, in 'The Brothers,' has confused with the Pillar Rock. At least a lad belonging to an old Ennerdale family, the Bowmans of Mireside, was killed by falling from this rock at a date closely corresponding to that indicated in the poem.

Attermire, one of the most picturesque limestone scars in Yorkshire. It is reached from Settle on the Midland Railway, and may be seen on the way to Malham Cove.

Back-and-knee: the process of supporting or raising the body in a 'chimney' by pressure against opposite sides with back and knees, or, more usually, back and feet.

Band.—This word forms part of many hill names in the North of England, and is also found in Scotland. Dr. Murray deals with it in the 'New English Dictionary,' but not in a satisfactory manner. He defines it as 'a long ridge-like hill of minor height or a long narrow sloping offshoot from a hill or mountain,' but it would be easy to adduce instances where this could have no application. The word is used by Douglas in his translation of Virgil to represent the Latin word 'jugum':

and from this Jamieson concluded that the word meant simply 'top of a hill'—a definition almost as unsuitable as the last. The late Mr. Dickinson, the leading authority on the Cumberland dialect, gave to the word the meaning of 'a boundary on high uninclosed land,' and indeed the frequent association of the word with personal names (often of clearly Scandinavian character) seems to indicate some territorial significance.

Bannerdale Crag (C. sh. 57) may be taken on the way up Saddleback from Troutbeck station on the line between Keswick and Penrith. About three miles up the stream is Mungrisdale, and still farther up along the course of the stream one fork leads to Scales Tarn and another to Bannerdale, where there is a lead mine just north of the crags. There is a rocky face some 600 ft. to 800 ft. high, offering climbing, which is steep, but by no means first-rate.

Barf.—From the southern shore of Bassenthwaite Water there is a fine steep scramble up this hill. On a bright winter's day it is rather inspiriting, and the views are good.

The name is more frequent in Yorkshire, where, according to Phillips, it has the meaning of 'a detached low ridge or hill.'

Beachy Head, close to Eastbourne, in Sussex, is a very fine bold chalk cliff, the first ascent of which is made about once in every two years,