242 ON THE GRAMPIAN HILLS. 



such as occurred during my visit. As we had only 

 half a mile to go to cover, there was time after break- 

 fast to look over the stables and farmsteads, and to 

 examine the stables and live-stock ; and it was 

 satisfactory to note that as yet we are not entirely 

 dependent upon foreign countries for our meat, as I 

 saw a lot of West Highland bullocks of wonderful 

 quality, which had been fatted and sold at a good 

 profit, in order to supply some of the inhabitants of 

 the metropolis with the roast beef of old England 

 during the present Christmastide. 



By this time the wind had dropped, and the 

 weather was dry and pleasant ; and mounting a five- 

 year-old Lincolnshire mare, I accompanied my friend 

 to the meet. On arriving at the four cross-roads 

 adjacent to Bentley Mill, we found the Master had 

 already put in an appearance, and a short time only 

 elapsed before the huntsman, James Bailey, trotted up 

 with the pack. Before the hounds were thrown into 

 the adjoining cover, there was time to observe the 

 "field." Among the number present I recognised 

 Mr. Edward Ind, a stanch supporter of this hunt, 

 accompanied by Miss Ind, and Lieutenant F. Ind, all 

 mounted on good-looking nags ; the Rev. Mr. Fane and 

 Miss Fane, Colonel Howard, Mr. Harvey Foster, the 

 secretary of the hunt, a light weight and hard-goer, 

 whom it would be a difficult task to outpace when the 

 fox, choosing a good line, gives a sharp half-hour 

 over the cream of the country ; Mr. Octavius Coope 

 and Miss Coope, General Sir Lumley Graham, Mr. 

 Walmsley, Mr. Collinson Hall, Mrs. Mackintosh of 

 Havering, well mounted; Mr. and Mrs. E. Wood, 

 on wheels, driving from point to point at a mar- 



