Page:Devon & Cornwall Notes & Queries.djvu/377

 1 6 The Ancient Stone Crosses circular pavement, about six feet nine inches in diameter. May we not allow that there is a probability that this inscribed stone marks the spot where, in years long since flown, the old cross was standing, and that it was set up, after the re- moval of the latter, as a memorial of it by those who were interested in preserving these particular bounds ? I do not forget that the map represents Hobajon*s Cross as being in the centre of the stone-row, and this stone as I have said, is at its end; but the row is continued from this point by modem boundary stones, and in all probability was so continued by older bond-marks at the time the map was drawn, so that if the cross really stood on the spot in question, in placing it in the middle of the row, the map would be substantially correct. There is one consideration we must not overlook, which is, that it. would not have been a very difficult task to remove the cross from Three Barrows, and to have re-erected it in the row, instead of setting up another stone there in its place. But it is not unlikely that it was found to be broken, though perhaps not in such a mutilated state as we see it now, and was no longer in a condition to be placed in its old position. The view from the commanding height of Three Barrows, or as old records have it, Threberis, is one of great variety and beauty. A large portion of the country lymg between the southern frontier of Dartmoor and the Channel is spread out before us, and most of the prominent headlands on the South Devonshire coast are plainly visible. On the other side we look into the moor. Away to the northward is seen the boggy land in the neighbourhood of Erme Head, with the distant tors peeping over the dark brown ridges. Westward the river flows at a great distance below the wind-swept height on which we stand, and Piles Wood is discernible far down the steep, stretching along the bank of the stream. Before leaving Three Barrows we must not omit to observe the fine reave, or boundary bank, which runs up from the East Glaze to the centre cairn, and pursues its course down the slope of the hill towards a little stream that falls into the Erme. Proceeding in a northerly direction we shall make our way to Western Whitaburrow, one of the bounds of the