Taith Ddaearegol 1 gyda T H Evans, Ty Rhos / Geological Tour 1 with T H Evans, Ty Rhos

ASTUDIAETH NATUR. ARLOESIAD GAN MR T. H. EVANS. (O’r County Echo 5-11-1908)

Darparwyd arloesi penderfynol yng nghyfeiriad astudio natur prydnawn dydd Gwener, pryd yr oedd ysgolheigion uwch yr Ysgolion Cenedlaethol (Bechgyn) i nifer o tua hugain gyda Mr T H Evans, (daearegydd, a mab Capt Titus). Evans), ar daith fer i archwilio lleoedd o ddiddordeb daearegol a hynafiaethol yng nghyffiniau agos y dref.

Gan aros yn gyntaf ym Mynwent y Methodistiaid, traddododd Mr Evans ddarlith fer ar y sir a’i ffurfiant creigiog, yn darlunio ei sylwadau trwy gymhorth y map, y barometer, a’r cwmpawd. Yma hefyd nododd natur y cerrig a ddefnyddiwyd i fetelu’r ffordd, a dangosodd eu bod yn dod o Rafael Fach. Wrth droi i lawr i Gnwc-sandy cyfeiriwyd sylw’r hogiau at y ffurfiant tywodlyd hynod, a hysbyswyd hwy fod hyn yn dystiolaeth fod glan y môr unwaith wedi ymestyn i’r fan honno. Dywedwyd wrthynt fod y ffurfiad tywodlyd yn cyfateb i un cyffelyb ar Lwybr Pen Cowrw Abergwaun, a thrwy hynny ddangos fod y môr ar un cyfnod wedi ymestyn i fyny’r dyffryn yr oeddent yn sefyll ynddo ar y pryd.

Wrth groesi’r bont dangoswyd y calchfaen yn ei gyfansoddiad iddynt ac roedd wedi egluro iddynt y gwahaniaeth rhwng y garreg honno a’r metelau ffordd yr oeddent wedi’u harchwilio’n flaenorol. Archwiliwyd y baromedr, a dangosodd wahaniaeth o gan troedfedd yn uchder y bryn o’r gwaelod i’r copa. Yna croesodd y parti rai caeau a dod allan ar ffordd sy’n arwain i Ffynondrudion.

Cyn cyraedd y lle hwnw, pa fodd bynag, troesant o amgylch gan ychydig gylch Derwyddol, ac yna aethant yn mlaen ar draws rhos Clegyrn i’r Maen Mawr, lie y traddodwyd darlith syml gan Mr Evans ar addoliad Ffallic yn egluro y modd yr oedd crefyddau yr oes fodern yn aml yn darparu tywyswyr i gynorthwyo. yn narganfyddiad y dyddiau gynt. Fel enghraifft dyfynai y ffaith fod gan y brodorion yn Ne Affrica, ar hyn o bryd, arferiad hynod trwy yr hon y cymerwyd y gwŷr ieuainc, wedi cyrhaedd oedran glasoed i’r anialwch am dair i chwe wythnos, yn ystod pa gyfnod y gwahanwyd hwynt oddiwrth y merched, a gwŷr oedranus y llwyth a’u cyfarwyddodd yn nirgelion eu crefydd. Nid oedd y seremoniau a gyflawnwyd, medd y darlithydd, yn hysbys, ond y posibilrwydd oedd eu bod yn gysylltiedig â’r addoliad Phallic a fu unwaith yng Nghymru. Tynnodd sylw hefyd at y bechgyn, o dan y system grefyddol honno, fod y cerrig o’u cwmpas yn cyfateb i’r Eglwys fodern, gan ei bod yn symbolaidd yn fys i ddyn yn pwyntio at Dduw.

Cerddwyd ymlaen am  ddau can llath eto, a chyrhaeddwyd Cromlech yn Llys yr onnen, ac eglurodd y darlithydd ychydig a wyddys am gromlech. Yr oedd hefyd wedi achlysur i adgoffa i’w llanciau fod cofgolofnau o’r fath yn perthyn i’r oes a fu, canys yr oedd rhai o’r daearegwyr amatur, ar ol sicrhau ei forthwyl, yn amlygu awydd taer i ganfod i ba haenau y perthynai y meini hanesyddol.

Cyn gwasgaru, perfformiodd y plantos ieuanc seremoni a oedd, er ei bod yn Brydeinaidd, yn brin o fod yn Ffallic o ran ei chymeriad. Bloeddiwyd cymeradwyaeth i Mr Evans, ac i’r fath bwrpas fel y daeth holl amaethwyr y cyffiniau ar frys i’r lle i ddysgu achos y cyffro! Mae clod mawr yn ddyledus i Mr Evans am ei feddwlgawch caredig yn diddanu ac addysgu’r ieuenctid yn naeareg a hynafiaethau eu sir eu hunain, ac nid oedd neb yn gwerthfawrogi’r ffaith yn fwy na’r prifathro (Mr E. W. Rees) . Bydd y nesaf yn y gyfres o deithiau addysgiadol hyn yn archwiliad o’r gwahanol haenau sydd i’w cael yng nghyffiniau’r dref, y rhai sydd i ffurfio testun arholiad sydd i ddod.

NATURE STUDY. INNOVATION BY MR T. H. EVANS. (From The County Echo 5-11-1908)

A decided innovation in the direction of nature study was provided on Friday afternoon, when the senior scholars of the National (Boys) Schools to the number of about a score accompanied Mr T H Evans, (geologist, and son of Capt Titus Evans), upon a short tour of inspection of places of geological and antiquarian interest in the immediate vicinity of the town.

Halting first at the Methodist Cemetry, Mr Evans delivered a short lecture upon the county and its rocky formation, illustrating his remarks by the aid of the map, barometer, and compass. He also pointed out the nature of the stones used in metalling the road, and showed that they came from Rafael Fach. Turning down to Cnwc-sandy the lads’ attention was directed to the peculiar sandy formation, and were informed that this was evidence that once the sea-shore had extended to that spot. They were told that the sandy formation corresponded with a similiar one at the French Walk, Fishguard, thus showing that at one period the sea had extended right up the valley in which they were then standing.

Crossing the bridge they were shown the limestone in its composition and had explained to them the difference between that stone and the road-metalling which they had formerly inspected. The barometer was examined, and showed a differance of a hundred feet in the height of the hill from base to summit. The party next crossed some fields and came out upon a road leading to Ffynondrudion.

Before reaching that place, however, they turned round by a little Druidic circle, and then proceeded across Clegyrn moor to the Big Stone, where Mr Evans gave a simply phrased lecture upon Phallic worship explaining how modern religions frequently furnished guides to assist in the discovery of those of former days. As an example he quoted the fact that in S. Africa, at the present time, the natives had a peculiar custom by which the young men, upon arriving at the age of puberty were taken into the desert for frum three to six weeks, during which period they were segregated from the females, and the aged men of the tribe instructed them in the mysteries of their religion. The ceremonies which were performed were, said the lecturer, unknown, but the possibility was that they were connected with the Phallic worship which had once prevailed in Wales. He also pointed out to the boys that under that religious system the stone round which they were gathered corresponded to the modern Church, being symbolically the finger of man pointing up to God.

Proceeding for anothes two hundred yards, the Cromlech at Llysyronen was reached, and the lecturer explained a little that is known about cromlechs. He had also occasion to remind his juvenile auditory that such monuments belonged to posterity, for some of the more ardent of the amateur geologists, having secured his hammer, evinced an earnest inclination to discover to which strata the historic stones belonged.

Prior to dispersal, the juveniles performed a ceremony which, though decidedly British, was scarcely Phallic in character. They cheered Mr Evans, and to such good purpose that all the farmers in the vicinity came hurrying to the spot to learn the cause of the outburst! The utmost credit is due to Mr Evans for his kindly forethought in entertaining and educating the youngsters in the geology and antiquities of their own county, and none appreciated the fact more than the headmaster (Mr E W Rees) . The next of the series of these instructive rambles will take the form of an inspection of the various strata to be found in the vicinity of the town, which are to form the subject of a forthcoming examination.