HUY. 221 



the Walloons, with the quantity of trout I distributed 

 amongst them as presents, and killed with a fly, a species of 

 fishing of which they had no idea, and were very curious to 

 witness. That part of the valley of the Hoyoux in which 

 my fishing was situated commenced from near the ancient 

 and picturesque feudal Chateau of Modarf, which overhangs 

 the river on a rocky eminence, continued for about half or 

 three-quarters of a mile down the stream, and comprised 

 every description of water, such as runs, falls, shallows, and 

 deep holes, that a fisherman could desire. The scenery on 

 either bank was rich, and varied with verdant meadows, 

 hills, rocks, and woods, and very different to any Belgian 

 scenery I had ever before witnessed. The distance from my 

 own residence was about two miles across the country, which 

 I generally performed on foot and sometimes on a pony 

 belonging to the farmer. 



I found most of the ordinary flies used successively on 

 English rivers, such as the March-brown, blue-dun, green-tail, 

 alder-fly, down-hill, and cow-dung fly, equally useful here; 

 and during the period the May-fly was on the water, could kill 

 any quantity of trout with a blow-line and a natural fly. Of 

 course, being a stranger, I was not very well acquainted 

 with the boundaries and limits of my own fishing, and might 

 now and then encroach a short distance upon the Count's, 

 which sometimes cost me a five-franc piece to the garde. 



I lived in great retirement at the old Chateau de Baia, in 

 one or two rooms scantily furnished, whose crumbling 

 frescoes and dilapidated marble mantelpieces attested their 

 former splendour, hired an old woman as femme de chambre 

 and cuisiniere, and was amply supplied with provisions and 

 vegetables of all kinds from the farm. Excellent wine I 

 procured cheap from the friend I have before alluded to, and 

 a circulating library at Huy afforded me all the literary 

 recreation I required. The beginning of autumn I made a 



