THE CHASSE IN SAXONY. 303 



right ofchasse over a great part of the lands of his subjects, 

 and particularly all the country, including a large circum- 

 ference, in the immediate neighbourhood of Dresden. The 

 King of Prussia possesses the same privileges over nearly the 

 whole of Germany ; the right of shooting is separated from, 

 the proprietorship of the soil, and the state lets out for hire 

 the shootings over forest, plain, and marsh, as a part of the 

 revenues of the crown. At the termination of the plain we 

 arrived at some charming slopes, where thick bushes were 

 scattered over the almost naked rocks. These banks were 

 very steep at the end of the valley, and bordering a rapid 

 torrent, but the bushes were the favourite retreat of many 

 hares and foxes. The keeper and his dog, scrambling with 

 much difficulty along the sides, drove the game upwards to- 

 wards us on the summit of the rocks. It was a very singular 

 position. The wide valley beneath our feet, the hills in 

 front, and the river in the background, formed a curious 

 panorama, We enjoyed a fine view, a good walk, and excel- 

 lent sport, having filled an immense wicker-basket with 

 hares and partridges, that a vigorous peasant, who accom- 

 panied us, carried on his shoulders. We made several 

 excursions of the same description, and each time, on our 

 departure, the man with the basket emptied its contents 

 before us, like a poulterer displaying his stock to tempt us 

 to make purchases. The game, in fact, here, as everywhere 

 else in Germany, belongs to the proprietor of the chasse, and 

 the shooter can only take away what quantity he pleases by 

 paying a certain fixed price per head. This custom may be 

 rather repugnant to our own feelings, but where it is esta- 

 blished I cannot help approving of it. First of all, it is just, 

 and very convenient for strangers, as it puts them at their 

 ease, and does away with the obligation they would other- 

 wise incur when requesting permission to sport over the 

 lands of casual acquaintances. 



From Dresden I floated down the Elbe to Hamburg, one 



