Page:Cornwall; Cambridge county geographies.djvu/56

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40 CORNWALL a crescent terminating on one side at Carnminnis, on the other at Cam Galva, enclosing a great basin that reaches to the cliffs. On the isthmus connecting the headland with the mainland is a ruined chapel, with the altar-stone entire. Three miles westward is Morvah with the inter- esting Chun Castle above it, of rude stone forming three concentric rings, and not far off is Chun cromlech. We come now to Botallack with its famous mine, carried to a depth of a thousand feet and extending a considerable distance under the sea. In time of storm the booming of the waves overhead and the clashing of stones rolled by the billows is so great that the bravest miners are driven from their work. Tin mining is now but languidly carried on. Although the heights are not great, yet this portion of coast is remarkably fine. Cape Cornwall exhibits the junction of the slate with the granite. Here also extensive mining has been carried on, and Boswedden, like Botallack, burrowed far under the sea. Near the church of St Just is one of the circles or amphitheatres in which miracle plays were performed. The "Merry Maidens" is a prehistoric stone circle in the neighbourhood with ten stones erect and five fallen. Whitesand Bay enjoys some slight shelter from the S. and E. winds. It is said that this bay was the landing- place of Athelstari after his conquest of Scilly, of King Stephen in 1135, and of King John when he returned from Ireland. In Sennen Cove is a cluster of fishermen's cottages. Land's End is the end of Penwith, the " chief head- land," and the Bolerium of the ancients. It commands