326 A Walk from 



same rule ! As they went around the field, they were 

 followed or rather met by men and women, each with 

 an allotted beat, who rushed in behind and gathered 

 up the fallen from the standing grain so as to make a 

 clear path for the next round. There seemed to be no 

 reason for this singular and awkward practice, except 

 the adhesion to an old custom of reaping. The 

 grain was not very stout, nor was it lodged. 



From Northallerton I hastened on to Newcastle- 

 upon-Tyne in order to attend, for the first time in my 

 life, the meetings of the Social Science Congress. I 

 reached that town on the 25th of August, and re- 

 mained there a week, enjoying one of the greatest 

 treats that ever fell to my lot. I will reserve a 

 brief description of it for a separate chapter at the 

 end of this volume, if my Notes on other matters do 

 not crowd it out. 



