^ D I S 7* R I C T. 



ture ; in which ilate, fome coniidsrable 

 part of the Diftrid: fhill remains ; and what 

 is obfervable, the better parts of thofe open 

 commons have evidently heretofore been 

 in a ilate of aration -, lying in obvious 

 ridges and farrows ; with generally the 

 remains of hedgebanks, correfponding with 

 the ridges; and with faint traces of build- 



mgs. 



"From thefe circumflances, it is under- 

 lloo^, by fome men of obfervation, that 

 thefe lands have formerly been in a ilate of 

 permanent inclofure, and have been thrown 

 up again, to a ftate of commonage, through 

 a decreafe in the population of the country. 



But from obfervations, made in different 

 parts of Devondiire, thefe appearances, 

 which are comm.on, perhaps, to every part 

 of the county, would rather feem to have 

 arifenout of acuiiom., peculiar perhaps to 

 this part of the liland, and which fiill re- 

 mains in ufe, of lords of manors having the 

 privilege of letting portions of the common 

 lands, lying within their refped:ive pre- 

 cindls, to tenants, for the purpofe of taking 

 one Or more crops of corn, and then fuf- 



ferinsi 



