SGG The Hunting Countries of England. 



hunted by the Blackmoor Yale. Still, the fact remaios 

 that an area of good hunting country;, sufficient for two 

 packs and in close proximity to many old-established 

 Hunts, is content to remain altogether without hounds; 

 and, what is more to the point, the S. and AV. Wilts, 

 as regards its present dearth of vale, is left much in 

 the position of the thirsty mariner, ^^with water, water, 

 all around, but ne'er a drop to drink.'^ This is but 

 an outsider's view — possibly, it may ^be suggested, 

 only a valesman's — and may very likely fail to 

 represent the concensus of opinion on the spot. But 

 most hunting men will, I think, concede that hills — 

 whether those of High Leicestershire, of Yorkshire, 

 Scotland, Hampshire, or elsewhere — may, as a rule, be 

 placed some points behind their adjacent lowlands, in 

 a comparative estimate of merit for the all-important 

 purpose in view. In other words that in nine times 

 out of ten, the vale gives better hunting and more 

 pleasurable riding. 



The S. and W. AVilts country has, however, at least 

 one corner of admirable vale — as well turfed, and 

 carrying as honest a scent, as any of the '' Yale of 

 Blackmore '' (the title by which the maps denominate 

 the valley of the river Stour, and its tributaries). 

 This is from Mere and West Knoyle southward, to 

 include East Knoyle, Sedgehill, and Semley; where 

 not only is there sound and excellent going, but, when 

 once clear of W. Knoyle, banks and fences less fiercely 

 formidable than in the stiffest parts of the Blackmoor 

 Yale territory. Much of the famous Yale holds the 

 web so closely in a rainy winter, that only the very 

 best of horses can gallop the rush-covered and deeply- 



