CAPTAIN JOHN ORR-EWJNG 327 



met at Baulking Green, in the Old Berks 

 country. The Master, Lord Ribblesdale, in 

 his admirable book on the Queen's Hounds, 

 gives as an extract from his hunting diary the 

 following most amusing account of the day's 

 sport : — 



March 2nd, 1893. Posted from Swindon to Kite- 

 more, near Faringdon. Orr-Ewing put up hounds, 

 horses and men at the kennels ; self, horses and 

 Samways (2nd horseman) away at Kitemore. A very 

 wet night. However, it had faired up by the time 

 we started. Water out all over the place. Forded 

 the redoubtable Rosey Brook on our way to the 

 meet, a lively but not inviting stream. 



Van de Weyer, who, I suppose, has often been in it 

 in old days, had prepared me for its peculiarities. 

 This morning it was running bank-high and out over 

 the banks. Took a mental but futile note of the look 

 of the ford we crossed by. A great gathering at the 

 turn-out (the meet was at Baulking Green). Foot 

 people for miles round. I was told that many had 

 started at 4 a.m. to get there. Waggons, musicianers 

 and cock-shies. Might have been a country race- 

 meeting by the look of things. Serried ranks of 

 spectators drawn up on neighbouring high grounds 

 commanding Rosey Brook. We were all hospitably 

 entertained by several capital farmers, Mr. George 

 Reade, Mr. Robert Whitfield, and Mr. Thomas Mat- 

 thews, living at Baulking : my host had very pretty 

 daughters. 



Sloe gin, I think it was — very good and fashionable 

 heliotrope colour. Found the Beaufort contingent all 

 landed up, well mounted, and ready for anything. 



Turned out Blackback soon after twelve o'clock, 

 amidst great and general confusion. " Fast-asleep," 



