THE SHEPHERD OF THE DOWNS 105 



are and have been for generations unlike those of 

 other peasants ; still, his best and sterling qualities are 

 undoubtedly of the race. Probably the villagers of 

 the downs and the weald of Sussex have more Saxon 

 blood in their veins than the people of any other part 

 of England : at all events it may, I think, be said that 

 the Saxon characteristics, physical and moral, pre- 

 dominate in them. Many of the coast people, those 

 especially who are seafarers, are markedly of Danish 

 descent : away from the sea the Saxon type is com- 

 monest ; the round, rosy face, steady, sometimes hard 

 blue eyes, and light brown hair. Red and yellow 

 hair, too, is very common every shade from the pale 

 reddish yellow miscalled " ginger," to the intense colour 

 miscalled " carroty," and the beautiful " auburn " and 

 " Venetian " reds. 



They are a good-looking people, and good to live 

 with, though I do not admire, or perhaps it would be 

 better to say love, them as much as I do the people 

 of Somerset. It is probably due to the Celtic blood 

 in the peasants of that county that gives their women 

 a softness and sweetness exceeding that of other 

 counties, a more delicate red colour when they are 

 young. But the Sussexians, though perhaps not the 

 best, nor the most lovable, are quite good enough, and 

 are I believe the strongest and hardiest in southern 

 England. They may also be described as fairly sober, 

 although they drink a good deal more perhaps than 

 the people of any other southern county; but they 



