THE OTSTEE. 45 



CHAPTEE VI. 



THE OYSTER Olf ITS TEAYELS. 



The Isle of Sheppey, the Med way, and Whitstable ; Milton, 

 Queenborough, Eochester, and Faversham Oysters ; Col- 

 chester and Essex Beds ; Edinburgh Pandores and Aber- 

 dours ; Dublin Carlingfords and Powldoodies ; Poole and 

 its Oyster-bank ; Cornish Oysters and the Helford Beds ; 

 Poor Tyacke, and How he was Done ; Dredgers and their 

 Boats ; Auld Eeekie's Civic Ceremonials ; Song of the 

 Oyster ; its Yoyage to Market, and Journey by Coach and 

 EaH. 



WHO that has traYelled by water from London 

 Bridge to Heme Bay — and who among us who 

 liYe Tvdthin the sound of Bow bells has not ? — should 

 the trip haYO been made in the beginning of August, 

 but must haYO noticed, after haYing passed the Isle of 

 Sheppey, a little fishing-town to his right, in East 

 Swale Bay, raising its head out of the riYer like a 

 joyous child dressed in its gayest attire, anticipating a 

 long-looked-for holiday ? It is the 4th of August, and 

 its holiday is at hand, for to-morrow the oyster season 

 begins ; and the town is Whitstable, in Kent, standing 

 out gaily with its bright flags and pennons in beautiful 

 relief from the low marshy soil by which it is sur- 

 rounded. Then, too, the dredgers, in their pic- 

 turesque costume, add greatly to the gay appearance of 

 the place, whilst some scYenty or eighty Yessels lying 



