360 The Hunting Countries of England. 



Sucli, however, being the characteristics of Devon 

 generally — as of Somerset partly — a pleasant exception 

 is found in the western portion of Mr. Mark Rollers 

 country. Up the earlier vale of the Torridge and its 

 confluent stream the Waldron — i.e., the Putford and 

 Bradworthy side of the Hunt territory — is a nice open 

 and generally rideable country, more in keeping with 

 Ireland than Devonshire. It is neither nearly as hilly 

 as the rest of the country, nor are its banks so steep,, 

 high and hedge covered — most of them, indeed, 

 being well within the scope of a clever horse's powers. 

 The inclosures are rather larger than those of the 

 east or Lord Portsmouth's country ; and except hero 

 and there along the valleys, where meadows generally 

 form the banks of the streams^ they are almost 

 entirely under the plough. AVere it not for 

 occasional bogs — which, however, seldom avail to 

 entrap the natives — there are few impediments in this 

 district that need stop a good man on a well taught 

 Irish, or even Devonsliire, horse. The farmers of 

 the neighbourhood breed a great many small 

 but well shaped horses, which from the earliest days 

 of breaking they teach to scramble on to a bank and 

 off again, and to follow their masters over when called. 

 Capital sportsmen and keen foxhunters are the yeo- 

 men of Devonshire. In the '^Bradworthy country'' 

 they nearly all follow the hounds; and what their 

 horses cannot carry them over, they generally nego- 

 tiate by jumping off, popping over with their horses 

 after them, and remounting again in incredibly quick 

 time. The coverts of this favoured side, too, are not 

 nearly as large and frequent as those of the east, or 



