34 The Hunting Countries of England. 



all that it is more than a fair scenting country. Scent 

 seldom brilliant^ is yet generally holding ; and a fox 

 may be hunted longer after he has gone than in 

 most countries. 



The Kennels are at Northiam^ close to the residence 

 of the Master — Mr. E. Frewen — who has kept hounds 

 there for the last ten years, and whose first efforts in 

 direction of sport in his country were in the shape of a 

 pack of staghounds (once a week). With these he 

 had runs of immense length ; but his predilections for 

 the more legitimate sport soon reasserted themselves, 

 and the present pack was developed from blood of 

 Mr. Musters^, the Fitzwilliam, Southdown, &c. 

 Hunting twice a week, he suits his meets entirely to 

 the requirements of the country ; and, the Kennels 

 being quite on the outside, the distances to covert and 

 home are frequently very long. Home, in fact, is left 

 out of the question, both as regards distance of fixture 

 and direction of drawing. Near Hastings there exists 

 a configuration of ground that demands frequent 

 attention, and the most difficult labour — to wit, the 

 undercliff at Fairlight. The almost perpendicular 

 side of the cliff is hidden with covert, and is full of 

 holes and crannies. Foxes swarm here; and it is 

 almost impossible to kill them. Hounds can barely 

 scramble about, and their only chance of getting 

 together is when Reynard runs the sea beach for 

 awhile. Of course as soon as he is blown, or tired of 

 the fun on the shingle, he betakes himself again to the 

 cliffside for refuge, and has all the best of it with his 

 less agile persecutors. A boat on the water below is 

 the easiest and surest way of watching events -, but for 



