IN THE WEALD 67 
roads, green though they were, that, at the time we 
have mentioned, the inhabitants of country towns 
within a few miles of the edges, so to speak, of two 
counties, knew nothing about them, beyond the report 
that such places existed. What little was heard at 
intervals, which were few and far between, was always 
connected with smuggling. For months, at different 
periods, I have made my home in various parts of 
this quiet, lonely district, full of beauty, go where 
you will. 
It was an open secret that smugglers crossed the 
Weald from the south coast, and left portions of their 
runs in various parts of it. Smuggling and natural 
history are very different subjects, but it was through 
being shown the places most used and frequented by 
those who followed the former pursuit in past years, 
in very secluded spots, by men who had known some- 
thing about it, that I first became acquainted with the 
wild things and their haunts in the Weald lands of 
Surrey and Sussex. Those who are sons of the coast 
have very little difficulty in making friends with others 
who have known coast people ; and so pleased was I 
with the kindly and hospitable people of this wild dis- 
trict and their homes, that from time to time I returned 
to wander there. When I first knew these districts no 
railways existed. I believe that they had not even 
F 2 
