THE III' Sr SMEW 



77 



his great knowledge of the management of liouiuls, under the tuiiion of liis 

 father. He \Yas appohited huntsman to tlie R.R.I], in June, 1863, and 

 remained with us for twenty-three years, gaining tlie good-will and esteem of 

 all who came in contact with him. He was a general favourite, and gave entire 

 satisfaction to the authorities of the Hunt. He showed gootl sport, and was 

 indefatigable in his attention to the hounds in kennel. Williams was a little 

 over forty years of age when he came to the R.R.B., and he proved himself 

 a good and hardy pedestrian. He was always a good walker, and keeps it 

 up to this day in spite of his seventy-three winters. In April, 18S6, he 

 retired from the post, receiving a handsome presentation from the members 

 of the Hunt, and taking with him the hearty good wishes of all. He 

 said he was "sorry to leave the hounds, but being in his sixty-fifth year, he 

 " found he could not keep well enough \\\> wit'n them." \\'illiams had f.iirly 

 good '■ hound language." He used to talk to his hounds in Welsh, and 

 they appeared to understand him very well. Being invited to record some 

 of his dog language, he furnishes the following, which is very much the same 

 as all huntsmen use. It would have been more interesting to have had 

 some of his Welsh expressions. 



See ho .' Spying a hare on her form. 



Ses f ses ! Calling hounds to feed. 



Hoy gone ! Casting when at a check. 



Ho! vatter ! In full view. This is something like our old friend 

 Dixon's " Have-at-her I " 



When hounds had over-run the scent, Williams would say " They've 

 '■ over-runted it."' This was no doubt a cross between over-running and 

 over-hunting. 



A portrait of ^^'illi.lms is among the \\'liitby group. Williams does not 

 claim the authorship of this old and typical hunting song, which he has 

 preserved. He is willing to leave the credit to his successor, Cole. 



SONG IN HONOUR OF MR. ROWLAND JONES 

 AND MIS HARRIERS. 



Come all j-ou gallant sportsmen, come listen to my song, 



A few lines I will relate to j'ou, I won't detain you long ; 



It's concerning of a hunt that took place the other day, 



With Rowland Jones' harriers — it's them that bears the sway. 



It was on the top of Cefnmawr, near to the black well, 



There was a game old hare, who manj' years did dwell ; 



She had been hunted by the beagles and coursed hy greyhounds fair. 



Hut none of those great sportsmen could kill this old game hare. 



The tidings came to Rowland Jones, — glad for to hear the news. 



Says he " I'll come and kill that hare any day you choose. 



With six couple of my harriers and a few of Newtown footmen. 



And if ever she is put up, she'll never be put up again." 



