INTRODUCTION 8 



doubtless spoken of at the time of his visit, as he 

 would be were he to appear in Devon to-day, as a 

 " gentleman from up country." And anyone seeking 

 to ascertain more definitely his domicile of origin, 

 would probably be told that he came from " the 

 other side of London," a locality considered to be 

 so remote as to put an end to further enquiries. 



The country hunted by the South Devon Hounds 

 is, naturally, not dissimilar in character to the 

 countries of other hunts in Devon. It has, however, 

 more variety than some and includes within its 

 borders a large slice of moorland which is not common 

 to all. This moorland consists of the eastern portion 

 of Dartmoor, 1 and is considered to be the best part 

 of the country. The remainder, called, in contra- 

 distinction to the Moor, the " in-country," comprises 

 cultivated lands and woodlands, and also a stretch 

 of flinty moorland which reaches from two miles 

 above Teignmouth to within four miles of Exeter, 

 and is quite separate and different in character from 

 the Moor proper. 



The limits of the South Devon country are treated 

 of in the Note on the map at the end of this book. 

 The reader's attention is particularly drawn to the 

 details in this Note, as I hope that I have succeeded, 

 after comparison of old sources of information and 

 personal reference to neighbouring masters and others 

 entitled to give an authoritative opinion, in settling 

 a question that has hitherto been somewhat neg- 

 lected. 



With the exception of the level land in the valleys 

 of the Exe and Teign, which nowadays are very 



^ Dartmoor is officially divided into four quarters : North, South, East 

 and West. The Eastern portion referred to does not correspond exactly 

 with the Eastern " quarter." 



