244 Hunting Countries of England. 



the Fitzwilliam or the Pytchley. A fox can^ there- 

 fore, take his own time about leaving ; generally goes 

 away with a long start ; can betake himself to a 

 similar refuge almost as soon as he chooses ; and is, 

 consequently, about as easy to catch as Cetywayo. Nor 

 with such difficulties in the way of your own progress, 

 is it at all an easy matter to keep within hearing of 

 hounds. You may often have to gallop a mile round 

 to gain a point of a few hundred yards ; and to retain 

 your cue of the line of chase under such conditions 

 must require an absolute instinct. Woodland Hunting 

 is a pursuit, and a taste, of itself. Some of us are 

 very fond of it : some prefer to gallop over the open. 

 The former division may well pay a visit to the Tick- 

 ham — where (if they would live with hounds) they 

 will often have to gallop quicker in the woods than 

 outside. Between the woods they will meet a rather 

 cold-scenting plough everywhere except on the ridge 

 of hills between Debtling and Charing (and which, as 

 the backbone of Kent, runs from one end of the 

 county to the other) . On the top of these is a good 

 deal of grass, with light fair fences : and here hounds 

 can often travel a great pace. But elsewhere the 

 country, where not taken up for growing hops or hop 

 poles, is given up to corn; and thousands of acres are 

 unfenced, except here and there by hurdles. The hop 

 gardens are mostly deeply trenched by hand, and every- 

 where heavy and sticky in winter ; while the corn land 

 is thickly strewed with the sharpest flints — from which 

 hounds and horses alike suffer. Indeed, a right good 

 hound is wanted in Mid Kent. If he has not lots of 

 music (yet be free from riot) he is useless in the big 



