CARDIGANSHIRE, a maritime co. in South Wales, on Cardigan bay, with an area of 675 sq.m., a half being waste. The surface is hilly, interspersed with ?ertile valleys. A rugged, bleak range of hills runs through the middle of the co., from the s.w. to the n.e., between the coast and the Teify, ending abruptly in a shelving beach in the middle of the coast, but on other parts there are rich flat tracts. The co. contains little wood. The chief rivers are the Teify, which rises in a small lake near the center of the co., and runs 70 in. s.e. and e. along the s. border of the co., the Claer'wen, Ystwith, and Rheidol. C. contains some romantic water-falls, especially the Rheidol falls and the Devil's bridge, and above 20 small lakes or llyns, noted for their wild beauty. C. reposes on lower Silurian slates and shales, continuing few or no organic remains. Rich veins of copper, lead, zinc, and silver occur. The climate is cold and wet, but mild though wet on the coast. Snow lies long on the hills iu winter. Summer is delightful in the valleys. C. is an agricultural co., and its chief branch of industry is the rearing of live-stock. The chief crops are oats, barley, and potatoes on the poor clay and peat soils of the mountains, and wheat, burley, and potatoes on the flat loams of the coast and valleys. The cattle and horses are small. There are some manufac
tures of coarse woolens and gloves, stockings, and hats. Oats, barley, cattle, sheep, pigs, butter, slates, and woolens are exported. Cardigan is the co. town; the other chief towns being Aberystwith, Lampeter, Adpar, Aberayron, Tregaron. C. sends one member to parliament. Pop. '71, 62,712; registered electors, 5,554. In 834, the king of C. became king of all Wales, under the title of Roderick the great. Ile divided Wales among his three sons. After this, the Danes and .Normans overran Cardiganshire. The co. has many remains of British and Roman camps and roads, Druidical circles, cairns, and castles. Many Welsh princes and bards were buried in the abbey of Strata Florida, 16 m. s.e. of Aberystwith, and some of the records of the principality were kept here. In C. there is a curious practice of sending presents (biddings) to a new-married couple, which, when sold, often realize £50 or £60. C. was disturbed, 1843-44, by the Rebecca riots.