HOCK TIDE 



171 



tliis warning shonld be insufficient, lie mounts to the 

 balcony of the Town Hall, where he blows a blast 

 upon the horn. Those who do not obey the summons 

 and refuse the payment of the head-penny are liable 

 to lose their rights to the privileges of the borough. 



By nine o'clock the jury are assembled in the Town 

 Hall for the transaction of their annual business, and 

 immediately after they are sworn in, the two tithing- 

 men start on their round of the town. It is in this 

 part of the proceedings that most interest is taken, 

 for the business of the tithing-men is to take a poll- 

 tax of twopence from 

 every male inhabitant 

 and a kiss from the wives 

 and dauofhters of the 

 burgesses. This is in 

 recognition of the ancient 

 powers of the Lord of 

 the Manor, who had pe- 

 culiar rio-hts over the 

 property and persons of 

 his " chattels." as the 

 people were once re- 

 garded. 



The tithing-men are 

 knownastutti-men; tutti 



being the local word for pretty. They carry short poles 

 as insionia of office, oaily bedecked with blue ribbons 

 and choice flowers known as tutti-poles ; while behind 

 them walks a man o-roanino- under the weia;ht of the 

 tutti oranges, it being the custom to bestow an orange 

 upon every person who is kissed, as well as upon the 



HUNGEBFORD TUTTI-MEN. 



