Of Dartmoor and its Borderland, 19 munication between the abbeys of Buckland and Tavistock on one side of the moor, and Buckfast on the other. The name by which I have always heard it called by the moor-men is Jobbler's or Jobber's Path, which it doubtless obtained from being used by the yarn -jobbers in former days. The monks of Buckfast were extensive traders in wool, and this com- modity and yarn spun from it, no donbt often formed the loads which were carried on the backs of horses on this old road. It appears more than probable that it passed near where Princetown now stands, for I find that Mr. Burt in his preface to Carrington's Dartmoor, published in 1826, states that traces of a trackway called Jobbers' Cross were visible across bogs near the prison. Although we shall be unsuccessful in finding the cross at Buckland Ford, we shall be well repaid for having visited the spot, for the surroundings combine to form a most pleasing picture of a moorland valley, secluded and quiet, and closed in by hills on every hand. Behind us stretches the heathery slope known as Bush Meads, anciently Bishop's Meads ; to our left (in summer time covered thickly with ferns) a hill rises precipitously from the Avon, which here bends round in a fine sweep. On our right hand the bottom of the valley is shut in by Dean Moor, and immediately in front of us, on the opposite side of the river, is Huntingdon Warren, a find bold hill of good hard ground, free from heather, but covered in places with scattered granite. Several enclosures, the rude erection of the Danmonii, are in sight, and tell us that this quiet valley was once thickly peopled by the ancient inhabi- tants of the moor. Not far from where we stand the Avon is spanned by a rude bridge of two openings, formed of slabs laid on a centre pier, consisting partly of the natural rock.'*' Further up the ^Bridges formed of huge flat stones laid upon rudely wrought abut, ments and piers, are termed clappers, and are almost peculiar to the Dart- moor country. This bridge, although constructed in a precisely similar manner to those which are undoubtedly of some age, is distinguishable from them at a glance. Here the edges of the granite are not rounded as they are in the older examples. The two stones which form the roadway and which once were evidently one, show the marks of wedges used in spliting them. 1 have been told that it was built by the first owner of the warren, which was formed early in the nineteenth century. The bridge however, presents a very picturesque appearance.
