The First and Last Hounds in England, 339 



is not alluring. The country is exceedingly wild, 

 much of it being common land, the principal features 

 of which are huge boulders of grey granite and gorse 

 bushes. The enclosures are small, and the fences in 

 general are represented by stout granite walls, and it 

 is necessary to possess considerable nerve to go across 

 this part of the world. The stiles are a caution, and 

 are constructed somewhat of this fashion — first a 

 granite step, then a gutter, then several more wide 

 steps ; a gutter on the opposite side, and another step. 

 Consequently there is every facility afforded for coming 

 to much grief. 



On arriving at the meet we find a " field ^^ of about 

 twenty performers assembled, and, the order to move 

 on being given, we proceed to draw for a fox amongst 

 the patches of gorse which abound in all directions 

 over the wide expanse of rough-looking land before 

 us. We then, not finding in this direction, leave the 

 Land^s End to the left, and draw the range of clifis on 

 the high ground leading towards the Logan Rock. 

 At this point it is necessary to seek the aid of some 

 fox terriers which accompany the pack, whose vocation 

 it is to hunt out the fox from his dwelling-place amidst 

 the huge boulders or massive weather-beaten rocks, 

 and make him bolt into the open, and if successful 

 there is a chance of a gallop over a fair line of country. 

 On this occasion, however, our fox was not disposed 

 to quit the security of these strongholds, and he 

 dodged for some time in and out the steep cliff's, and 

 ic was rather trying to tlie nerves of one unaccustomed 

 to this style of hunting when descending one of the 

 steep passes on the cliff* side, to have to negotiate a 

 granite wall which presented itself. 



22—2 



