4i8 The Book of the Horse. 



the harriers on the Southdowns, but with a much more beautiful country of streams, and woods, 

 and moors. That an ounce of fact is worth a pound of theory is an accepted axiom. On a 

 day which has been described in print, when, after two hours' hunting on the moors, the deer 

 turned into the close enclosed country, and running up the bed of the river Exe, was killed at 

 a place called, I think, Winsford, the veteran parson of the hunt, the Rev. Jack Russell, presented 

 the slot to a child in a scarlet jacket, ten years old, who, led with a rein by her father, a naval 

 officer and a stranger, and accompanied by a brother and sister three or four years older, all 

 mounted on the roughest of ponies, had ridden from the find to the kill ; often left behind by 

 the well mounted, but always turning up again at the right moment. Let this anecdote 

 encourage other fathers of horsey families to " go and do likewise." 



HOW TO GET THERE, AND WHERE TO GO. 



The hunting district is environed by two lines of railway, both starting from Taunton. 

 The one takes a coast-line passing Dulverton and Dunster, until it terminates at Minehead, 

 where one of the kennels of the Devon and Somerset stag-hounds is situated. The other, 

 more inland, Cdnveys the traveller to Barnstaple, passing through the South Molton Station, 

 the nearest to the centre of Exmoor. It may roughly be stated that all the best meets of 

 the stag-hounds lie on the moors between Dunster and South Molton. Castle Hill, the 

 seat of the Earl of Fortescue, is close to South Molton, and his lordship and family hunt 

 with the deer regularly. 



The best stations for hunting are Minehead, Dunster, Dulverton, Porlock — the last situated 

 in a very deep valley — Lynton, Simon's Bath, and Exford. The kennels are at JNIinehead and 

 Exford. The best way of getting about is in a light, strong, open carriage with a patent 

 break, and pair of horses that can also be ridden. An Oliver or Perth dog-cart is a good 

 model. 



Dunster is perhaps the best on that side of the country ; and from Dunster you may for 

 a change go down into the steep gorge where Porlock lies. The descent will tax your break 

 and your horses' hind-quarters. Then go on to Exford, where the other kennels of the stag- 

 hounds are situated. There is a comfortable old-fashioned tavern at Exford. Thence you 

 may proceed to Simon's Bath, in the centre of the Exmoor, where there is an inn frequented 

 by hunting-men ; lodgings and good stabling may also be had at a farm-house, but no beer 

 or spirits are sold in the whole village. On the other hand, the milk, cream, and butter, are 

 excellent. Trout, small but sweet, abound in the Barle and Exe, and any quantity of mush- 

 rooms may be had for the trouble of pulling. 



THE CHARM OF THE WEST. 



The charm lies in the strange wild rocky scenery, intersected by many streams, the 

 luxuriant plantations, the far-rolling brown moor.s, the exhilarating softness of the air "as 

 refreshing as Switzerland," the long gallops over turf without a fence, the expectation of 

 seeing the antlered deer ; and, not least, the extreme enthusiasm and hearty ways of the 

 rural sportsmen. The drawbacks are the long distances to cover, the frequent rain, and 

 the many blank days, or days when a deer will not leave cover. 



Hard riding there is none, but of excitement of the best kind for a whole family of 

 hunters in embryo there is plenty. . 



