et. Portreath is to a
certain extent the port of Redruth. The cliffs are rather fine and the
seas exceptionally so in rough weather, but as a good deal of refuse
water from the mines is discharged here the result is that the sea for
a considerable distance is frequently tinged with a thick reddish
colour.

Between Portreath and St. Agnes the coast scenery is rendered very
attractive by reason of the number of coves into which it is broken,
such as Porth Towan, a very favourite spot with visitors.

The little town of St. Agnes is steadily growing in popularity, while
St. Agnes Beacon is of great geological interest, and from the summit a
fine view is obtained of the Cornish coast from Trevose Head to St.
Ives.

Opie, the painter, was a native of St. Agnes, where he was born in 1761.
The house is passed on the way to Perranporth, and is known as "Harmony
Cottage". Opie's artistic talent is said to have been first recognized
by "Peter Pindar", when that worthy resided at Truro. A large number of
his early paintings may still be seen in many of the houses in the
vicinity of his birthplace, although a considerable number have been
carried off by discerning collectors.

A few years ago Perranporth was nothing but a small cluster of
fishermen's cottages, but the fine stretches of golden sand and some
imposing masses of arched rocks have brought many visitors, for whom
increased accommodation has had to be found. One and a half miles from
Perran Round, an ancient amphitheatre, are portions of an old church,
long hidden in the sand, over which St. Piran, or St. Piranus officiated
in the sixth century. The church of Perranporth is a chapel of ease to
Perranzabuloe, i.e., _Piran-in-sabulo_.

Although Max Mueller satisfied himself that St. Piran was a purely
mythical figure, and that the word "Piran" meant merely a "digger",
others assure us that there is enough evidence to satisfy a court of law
that Piran was connected with the school founded by Patrick, and that in
the fifth century he was a missionary in Cornwall. Excavations are being
made constantly around this little church half-buried in the fine sand,
and many important discoveries have resulted. There appears to be little
doubt that the church shares with Gwithian oratory the distinction of
being the earliest Christian edifice of which any considerable portions
remain in England. At the same time it is as well to bear in mind that
the part of the material structure