The Holderness. 409 



of in two divisions — the Eastern and the Western (or, 

 rather, Holderness and the Wold) — each of which 

 might, indeed, well form a country of itself. The 

 Eastern portion, or Holderness proper, runs along the 

 sea border, is quite flat, and holds a capital scent — 

 being a rich soil, only reclaimed from sea and swamp 

 some sixty or seventy years. The enclosures are 

 very large; and the chief obstacles encountered are 

 large open drains — some few of which are far too wide 

 to jump, and must be forded where practicable. The 

 other fences are small and of an easy description, 

 except in parts of North Holderness ; and nowhere is 

 much timber to be met with. There is little — but very 

 little — grass to ride over ; but the plough is well 

 drained. 



The coverts of Holderness proper are almost all of 

 gorse (or, as it is termed in the vernacular of the 

 country, whin) the sole exception being at Rise and 

 Burton Constable (Sir T. Constable\s) . The most 

 famous of these gorses, and the one which is 

 credited with perhaps as many good runs as the rest 

 put together, is Dringho. It has always been noted 

 for an expecially stout breed of foxes ; and belongs, 

 together with all the credit due to its excellence, to 

 Mr Bethell of Rise. There are also good whin coverts 

 at Catfoss, Wassand (Mr. Constable's), Barmston, 

 Owstwick, and Humbleton, with Blacksmith's Whin, 

 &c., and stick heaps here and there that are very 

 tempting to foxes. Hounds have every chance in 

 Holderness proper ; for the enclosures are large, there 

 are very few hares, and the coverts are often six or 

 seven miles apart, while their field is a small one and 



