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The
lane from Carn Kenidjack to St Just was called Vounder Glas, which means
Green Lane. Here, in a little cottage on the edge of the moor, lived Nanny
Nankervis.
Now she was a wise old woman who knew which wild berries to eat and which plants
made good medicine. She had created a garden in one of the meadows and grew all
her own fruit and vegetables. Her flowers bloomed brighter and longer than any
one else's and although she lived alone many animals came visiting and
some said she could talk with them Lfant could hear singing and then
he saw her sat in her rocking chair in the front yard. He lifted his trunk
and joined in with a trumpet of his own.
Now Nanny Nankervis had heard many noises in her time but never anything
quite like that. She stopped singing and ran through the gate and
for an old lady she moved very fast. She bumped straight into Lfant, who
was so surprised he fell over backwards, straight into a patch of stinging
nettles. With no time to waste Nanny Nankervis pulled him up with one hand and
grabbed a handful of dock leaves in another and began to rub his behind. Lfant
was so embarrassed but the stinging, tingling sensation stopped. He was sure she
had somehow worked her magic on him. Eventually the kind old
lady asked why he had come to visit her. Lfant told her his story and of
his search. Sadly, although she knew many things, Nanny Nankervis did not know
where Lfant had come from. However, she felt sure that the 'Old Ones' who spent
all their days digging tin would know.
"They knew all there was to know" she said and could still
be found on the cliffs above the sea near the old mine workings called the
Burrows.
"My friend Kerow the stag will guide you" she said
"He is sure footed and the stony paths are no trouble to him. Once there
were many of his kind roaming this valley right down to the sea. The herd was
known as 'Kerwys'. If you understand Cornish 'nan' means valley so you can
see how my ancestors got the name of NANKERVIS. Follow the stag and he
will take you to the Burrows"
With that said she went back into her cottage andclosed the door. Kerow trotted along the path for a ways followed by Lfant and then the stag turned and spoke.
"Although I am sure footed you will find the way difficult and it is
getting dark. We can just see the sea shimmering in the fading sunlight.
If you close your eyes and imagine you can hear the waves crashing on the beach
below you will be there sooner than you think"
Lfant did as he was told and if you click on him you will see where he ended up
next.