THE FOREST OE EXMOOR. 137 



Ridge to Owlaman's Borrowe, leaving Sparlockes 

 Common which did abutt the said Chase on the 

 East." 



This puts the whole parish of Oare outside the 

 forest, but the survey is simply declaratory and does 

 not purport, as did the previous perambulations, to 

 disafforest anything. 



The area of the forest is stated to be 18,927 

 acres, 2 roods, 24 poles, and its annual value 



The commissioners reported that it was " moun- 

 tainous and cold ground, much beclouded with thick 

 fogges and mists, and is used for depasturing of cattle, 

 horses, and sheep, and is a very sound sheep 

 pasture," but they reported that very little of it was 

 capable of improvement. 



The survey agrees practically with that made 

 when the forest was sold in 181 8, when it was found 

 to contain 18,810 acres, of which 10,262^ were sold 

 to Mr. J. Knight, of Worcestershire, and the residue 

 "allotted" to various manors and persons in lieu of 

 rights on the forest which were extinguished. This 

 is the explanation of the term "allotment," such as 

 Porlock Allotment, the Acland Allotment, and 

 numerous others, which when mentioned by way of 

 directing a stranger from up the country to find his 

 way home, have sent him wandering about the moor 

 looking for a cabbage garden, and have been the 

 ■cause of much regrettable language before the 

 benighted sportsman reached his inn. 



