44 CORNWALL Fougou Hole. Not far from them, in the midst of a grass-field, are the " Merry Maidens," a circle of grey stones about 24 yards in diameter ; there are nineteen of them altogether, none quite the height of a man, and some much smaller. They convey an impression of immovable solemnity, as such age-old things always do, for they are planted so securely, and look so indomitable with their grey, lichen-covered sides four-square to the winds. Local tradition tells how the Merry Maidens were caught dancing on the Sabbath to the music of the pipers, and turned to stone, but history is silent as to their origin. There is indeed all over Cornwall many a reminder of the ancient world now lost to all record. In various other places are to be found other circles of Merry Maidens just as much of a problem as these, but none so perfect or so im- pressive. The long, narrow, rectangular tower of St. Buryan, crowned with pinnacles, dominates all the landscape ; exactly of this pattern are most of the Cornish church towers. They are generally as much alike as , if they had been turned out of a mould. This is one of the most interesting of the many interesting churches in Cornwall. After Athelstan's triumphant victory near Lamorna, he
