Page:The Cornwall coast.djvu/295

 CRANTOCK, NEWQUAY, MAWGAN 289 dedicated to a maiden Columba, who suffered martyrdom in Gaul. We must not think of the great Irish Columba here. The district has long been a chief centre of Cornwall's popular game of hurling, which still enjoys an annual revival, sometimes in the village itself, sometimes on the sands reaching towards Newquay. The ball used on these occasions is a little smaller than a cricket-ball, and has a coating of silver ; it is inscribed with the verse — " St. Columb Major and Minor, Do yoiir best ; In one of your parishes I must rest." The sides are not now confined to the parishes, but usually consist of " Married versus Single," or " Townsmen versus Countrymen." The ball is thrown up and hurled from hand to hand, no kicking being allowed ; and the game is won by him who reaches the opponents' goal with it. From Carew's account of the game as formerly played, we may judge that a very extensive ground was used ; he speaks of the players as taking " their way over hills, dales, hedges, ditches — yea, and thorou bushes, briers, mires, plashes, and rivers whatsoever — so as you shall sometimes see twenty or thirty lie tugging together in the water, scrambling and scratching for the ball. A play verily both rude and rough." A writer of half a century since gives this description : " A ball about the size of a cricket-ball, formed of cork or light wood and covered with silver, was hurled into the air, midway between the goals. Both parties immediately rushed towards it, each