DEVON AND SOMERSET. 375 



donations have fallen far short of even this 

 modest minimum, and when one considers 

 that the casual tourist does not shrink from an 

 outlay of two guineas a day on the stout 

 hireling he bestrides, it seems indeed a 

 moderate exaction to fix his contribution towards 

 the upkeep of such a pack as he will find 

 waiting for him at the meet, at such a figure 

 as this, which will not add appreciably to the 

 expenses of his sojourn in the West Country. 

 To such a one it will probably not occur until, 

 bitten with the sport, he repeats his visits 

 again and again, that the maintenance of the 

 Devon and Somerset in all their glory, entails not 

 only the expenses incidental to any four days 

 a week pack, but necessitates the provision 

 of a large sum by way of compensation 

 for the nightly ravages of over five hundred 

 deer. Harbouring and boats, and the carting 

 and distributing of venison, are heavv items in 

 the master's bill, such as do not fall to the lot 

 of a master of foxhounds, and, in addition, the 

 festive board is nobly spread at Porlock and 

 at Dulverton for long lines of deer preserving 

 farmers, who accept the master's invitation and 

 assemble in great force to do justice to a 

 smoking haunch. These same venison feasts 

 are matters of long established custom, and the 

 old routine is ceremoniously followed. 



At the high table, the master takes the 



