16 FOXHUNTING ON LAKELAND FELLS 



parts to 150 in the more central portions. This, 

 however, does not mean that there is a more or 

 less constant drizzle. When it rains amongst the 

 fells, it rains ; a heavy downpour, then clear 

 weather to follow. In summer, as in the hot 

 weather of 1919, there is often a drought. 



Speaking of rain reminds me of the yarn con- 

 cerning the coach-driver, who, when asked by a 

 passenger if they had much rain in the district, 

 rephed, " Why, neay ; it donks an' dozzles and 

 does, an' 'appen comes a bit o' a snifter, but nivver 

 what you'd ca' a gey gert pell ! " 



When out with hounds the visitor will come 

 across many of the small Herdwick sheep scattered 

 about the fells. Before he leaves the district he 

 will no doubt have come to appreciate them as 

 mutton, than which there is none better in the 

 country. 



It was Jack Sheldon, another well-known coach- 

 driver, who used to describe the scenery to his 

 passengers, when tooling his team between Winder- 

 mere and Keswick. His conversation was some- 

 thing Hke this : " We are now crossing Matterdale 

 Moor, where the farmers have a right of grazing so 

 many sheep by paying a shilling a year to the lord 

 of the manor. There's fine grass here and on 

 HelveUyn for the hogs ! " A retired butcher being 

 on the coach one day remarked, " But I don't see 

 any hogs ! " " Well," said Jack, " not pigs, but 



