CHAPTER XII 



HUNTING 



HUNTING has always been an integral part of 

 New Forest economy. For that purpose it was 

 first afforested, and without hunting it would not 

 have continued to exist during all these ages. 

 In its earlier centuries the deer was, of course, the 

 object of the chase, probably by hounds driving 

 the deer to men armed with bows and arrows. 

 They are apt to follow the same line year by 

 year, according to the conformation of the ground. 

 It is curious that the spot where Rufus was killed 

 is the very one in that part of the Forest where 

 any person desirous of viewing a hunted deer 

 would take his stand. The reason is that the 

 two ancient manors of Minstead and Canterton, 

 then as now enclosed, narrow the open Forest to 

 an isthmus between their respective fences. Then, 

 as now, the line which the deer were sure to take 

 ran past the spot where Rufus stood, and now, 

 as then, the follower of the chase who wants to 

 view the deer takes his stand just where the Red 

 King met his fate. 



177 Ttr 



