The One Has A Floating Island In It, Which Is Often
Driven From One Side To The Other By The Force Of The Winds; And The
Shepherds Behold With Astonishment Their Cattle, Whilst Feeding,
Carried To The Distant Parts Of The Lake.
A part of the bank
naturally bound together by the roots of willows and other shrubs
may have been
Broken off, and increased by the alluvion of the earth
from the shore; and being continually agitated by the winds, which
in so elevated a situation blow with great violence, it cannot
reunite itself firmly with the banks. The other lake is noted for a
wonderful and singular miracle. It contains three sorts of fish -
eels, trout, and perch, all of which have only one eye, the left
being wanting; but if the curious reader should demand of me the
explanation of so extraordinary a circumstance, I cannot presume to
satisfy him. It is remarkable also, that in two places in Scotland,
one near the eastern, the other near the western sea, the fish
called mullets possess the same defect, having no left eye.
According to vulgar tradition, these mountains are frequented by an
eagle who, perching on a fatal stone every fifth holiday, in order
to satiate her hunger with the carcases of the slain, is said to
expect war on that same day, and to have almost perforated the stone
by cleaning and sharpening her beak.
CHAPTER X
Of the passage by Deganwy and Ruthlan, and the see of Lanelwy, and
of Coleshulle
Having crossed the river Conwy, {173} or rather an arm of the sea,
under Deganwy, leaving the Cistercian monastery of Conwy {174} on
the western bank of the river to our right hand, we arrived at
Ruthlan, a noble castle on the river Cloyd, belonging to David, the
eldest son of Owen {175} where, at the earnest invitation of David
himself, we were handsomely entertained that night.
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