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80 We next went to Carnarvon in North Wales, a very old town and containing the ruins of a fine ancient castle. Edward I. when he conquered Wales signalized his conquest by the erection of a great number of strong castles all over the country, and of all these the Carnarvon Castle is undoubtedly the most splendid. From Carnarvon we went to Llanberis, a most picturesque town, surrounded on all sides by high mountains and beautiful lakes. We passed through the "Llanberis Pass" which in its aspect of bleak sublimity yields to none else that I have yet seen. At its foot a mountain torrent rushes and foams over a bed of stone, and makes its way through vast masses of rugged rocks which have rolled down from the mountains on both sides. When we had left behind this terrible pass—a most beautiful valley greeted our eye. We were now very near Snowdon but could not see its top which was shrouded in mists and clouds, it being a misty day. Soon after we reached the picturesque town of "Bedgelert," i.e., the "grave of Gelert" said to be the identical spot where Llewyllen, King of Wales, buried his faithful dog Gelert who had saved his child from a wolf, but whom the king slew through a mistake. The tree under which the dog is said to have been buried was pointed out to us. We passed through another bleak and magnificent pass, that of "Aberglaslyn" and came back to Carnarvon.

Next day, we came to Conway, also containing a castle