322 The Hunting Countries of England. 



Farndale and the Bilsdale. At about the farthest line 

 to which the Sinnington cany their operations, the 

 hills give a sudden drop before rising again still 

 higher northward to form the watershed of these 

 moorland heights. The character and situation of the 

 Sinnington Country may therefore be thus ex- 

 plained. A number of streams run directly, and 

 ^t almost regular intervals, southward from this 

 watershed — all pointing towards Lord Middleton's 

 country, till, before reaching it, they all form 

 one bed and one valley in the river Derwent. 

 The chief of these streams — or "becks'^ — are the 

 Eye, the Kiccal, the Hodge, the Dove, and the Seven ; 

 and each of these, commencing as a mere burn on the 

 moors, cuts a deep dale down the slope — till, as it nears 

 the lower ground, its dale opens widely and gently out, 

 -and all its highland roughness disappears in the quiet 

 undulations. So not only does most of the Sinnington 

 country present a most civilised and cultivated 

 appearance ; but the greater part is far smoother 

 riding than any of the hills of High Leicestershire. 

 The becks are not easy to cross ; and the higher they 

 are followed the rougher do their banks become. Their 

 wooded sides form almost the only covert of the 

 higher ground, and they harbour a race of foxes as 

 stout and wild as any south of the Tweed. The vale 

 has a certain number of whins more or less dependable ; 

 and some of the more recent ones hold out conside- 

 rable promise. All the lower ground is divided into 

 small enclosures, with thorn and timber fences of just 

 sufficient size to prompt and promote the enjoyment 

 of both horse and rider, to teach a young one and 



