166 WILD WHITE CATTLE OF GEE AT BRITAIN. 



Princess of Wales arrived at Chillingliam Castle, and 

 were received, not only by its noble owners, but by the 

 whole of the Border-land, with a right royal welcome. 

 The day after their arrival was devoted to partridge 

 shooting on Lord Tankerville's farms near Wooler ; and 

 on the 18th, Northumbrian noblest and best came to 

 do honour to their future sovereign, when the hounds 

 met at Chillingliam. The morning of the intermediate 

 day, the 17th, was given up to the foremost object of 

 the visit — the chase of the wild bull. 



A little before nine the start was made through 

 the gardens and grounds on the south front of the 

 Castle, from which, at something less than a quarter of 

 a mile, access is gained to the park. The Prince was 

 accompanied by Lord Tankerville, and attended by 

 Michie, the head keeper, by the assistant keeper, and by 

 his own gilly. At first the Prince rode a pony ; but, 

 as they got nearer to the cattle, this was exchanged 

 for the hay-cart, a long, light country cart — one of the 

 vehicles ordinarily used by the farmers of Northumber- 

 land, from which in winter the animals are foddered. 

 When the " deer-hamel," which is rather more than a 

 quarter of a mile within the park, was reached, the wild 

 herd was first seen. Its members were then gathered to- 

 gether upon the large and extensive wood plain in the 

 lower part of the park, and were quietly grazing in a single 

 group. The Prince and Lord Tankerville then entered 

 the cart, which also carried some hay. Various attempts 

 were made to approach the herd, and much time was ex- 

 pended in endeavouring to do so. The cattle were jealous 

 and suspicious ; they kept moving about from place to 

 place ; they sometimes separated and divided into 

 smaller bodies ; and there was much fear that if pressed 



