Page:Cornwall (Mitton).djvu/135

 90 CORNWALL arily steep. To go sheer down is a feat most people will find difficult, even on foot, and the new road has been designed to help. Even that would be accounted steep in any ordinary place. Down, down it goes into the neck of the funnel, and looks for all the world as if it were leading to a slate quarry, and then suddenly there opens out one of the grandest harbours on the coast, with huge sloping cliffs running alongside and curving round, making the entrance both difficult and dangerous. With their lovely curves and angles they add greatly to the vision. From the heights of these cliffs Lundy Island can be seen when the air is clear. There is an old saw : When Lundy is plain it will be rain When Lundy is low it will be snow !" If the word of the inhabitants is to be trusted the last contingency must come seldom indeed ! The name Boscastle comes from Bottreux or Botreaux-castle, spoken quickly and run together. The site of the castle, which had ceased to exist by Queen Elizabeth's reign, is still pointed out. The town lies in two parishes and the church of Forra- burry, belonging to the one, stands well up on the western cliff.
 * When Lundy is high it will be dry