THE ESSEX HUNT COUNTRY. 1 5 



lastly the Roothings and their neighbourhood. These 

 districts are respectively known as the Monday, Wednes- 

 day, Friday, and Saturday countries, from the days of the 

 week on which they are now usually hunted. 



The Monday country extends round Epping, and 

 southwards from the road throuirh that town to Ongar and 

 Chelmsford. Epping Forest, though it holds foxes, is 

 hopeless for foxhounds, from the abundance of earths. 

 Beyond Epping, a town long associated with foxhunting, 

 we reach a better country. Hounds were kennelled in 

 very early times in its neighbourhood, and seventy years 

 ago it was described as " the grand depot where most 

 of the gentlemen who live at a distance keep their 

 hunters." \\'ithin no areat distance of the town we 

 come to the extensive woods of Ongar Park, belonging 

 chiefly to Major George Capel Cure ; Gaynes Park 

 Wood, and Rough Tallies, the property of Mr. Chisenhale 

 Marsh. These are the largest coverts of the Hunt, ex- 

 cept the Blackmore High woods. These last are chiefly 

 the property of Lord Petre, and they, with Thoby Wood, 

 which is almost part of the High Woods, were neutral 

 with the Essex Union when Lord Petre hunted that 

 country in Mr. Conyers's time. In addition to these large 

 woodlands, the Monday country is well provided with 



