326 THE RED DEER OF EXMOOR. 



tourists who help to swell the throng, so that, 

 although there may be several hundred horsemen 

 and horsewomen present, their numbers are far 

 exceeded by those who come on foot and in carriages ; 

 the latter, when drawn up in rows, fill up a large part 

 of the field. In fact, every wheeled vehicle within 

 twenty miles seems to meet there, or get broken 

 down on the way. The roads from Minehead and 

 Exford are filled with a continuous stream of carriages, 

 and a right weary journey they have before they 

 reach SirThomas Acland's picturesque old farmhouse, 

 which stands almost hidden by the fine old timber 

 trees surrounding it. Standing in the meet field 

 it is hard to realise that this is very high ground, so 

 completely do the surrounding hills overtop it ; yet 

 the Ordnance map proves that Cloutsham is a 

 thousand feet above the sea, which lies sparkling in 

 the distance ; and the heated stream of foot people 

 who have elected to climb from the valley below by 

 the steep path which comes up over the nose of the 

 Ball would be quite willing to believe that another 

 hundred might be added to that. 



One gets a glimpse of the vale of Porlock, with its 

 cornfields ripe for harvest ; admires the blaze of 

 colour, purple heather, and golden gorse above the 

 olive green of the ilex wood on the slope of 

 Bossington Beacon ; but the main interest lies in 

 the dark green combes in the foreground and on 

 either hand, for they are the great stronghold of the 

 deer. 



