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their sway on Dartmoor； where there exist no less than three
distinct kinds white； black； and grey；*＇9＇and there are still
professors of witchcraft； male as well as female； in most of the
villages。
As might be expected； the pack…horses held their ground in Dartmoor
the longest； and in some parts of North Devon they are not yet
extinct。 When our artist was in the neighbourhood； sketching the
ancient bridge on the moor and the site of the old fair； a farmer
said to him； 〃I well remember the train of pack…horses and the
effect of their jingling bells on the silence of Dartmoor。
My grandfather； a respectable farmer in the north of Devon； was the
first to use a 'butt' （a square box without wheels； dragged by a
horse） to carry manure to field； he was also the first man in the
district to use an umbrella； which on Sundays he hung in the
church…porch； an object of curiosity to the villagers。〃 We are also
informed by a gentleman who resided for some time at South Brent'；
on the borders of the Moor； that the introduction of the first cart
in that district is remembered by many now living； the bridges
having been shortly afterwards widened to accommodate the wheeled
vehicles。
The primitive features of this secluded district are perhaps best
represented by the interesting little town of Chagford； situated in
the valley of the North Teign； an ancient stannary and market town
backed by a wide stretch of moor。 The houses of the place are
built of moor stonegrey； venerable…looking； and substantialsome
with projecting porch and parvise room over； and granite…mullioned
windows； the ancient church； built of granite； with a stout old
steeple of the same material； its embattled porch and granite…groined
vault springing from low columns with Norman…looking capitals；
forming the sturdy centre of this ancient town clump。
A post…chaise is still a phenomenon in Chagford； the roads and
lanes leading to it being so steep and rugged as to be ill adapted
for springed vehicles of any sort。 The upland road or track to
Tavistock scales an almost precipitous hill； and though well enough
adapted for the pack…horse of the last century； it is quite
unfitted for the cart and waggon traffic of this。 Hence the horse
with panniers maintains its ground in the Chagford district； and
the double…horse； furnished with a pillion for the lady riding
behind； is still to be met with in the country roads。
Among the patriarchs of the hills； the straight…breasted blue coat
may yet be seen； with the shoe fastened with buckle and strap as in
the days when George III。 was king； and old women are still found
retaining the cloak and hood of their youth。 Old agricultural
implements continue in use。 The slide or sledge is seen in the
fields； the flail； with its monotonous strokes； resounds from the
barn…floors； the corn is sifted by the windstowthe wind merely
blowing away the chaff from the grain when shaken out of sieves by
the motion of the hand on some elevated spot； the old wooden plough
is still at work； and the goad is still used to urge the yoke of
oxen in dragging it along。
＇Image＇ The Devonshire Crooks
〃In such a place as Chagford；〃 says Mr。 Rowe； 〃the cooper or rough
carpenter will still find a demand for the pack…saddle； with its
accompanying furniture of crooks； crubs； or dung…pots。 Before the
general introduction of carts； these rough and ready contrivances
were found of great utility in the various operations of husbandry；
and still prove exceedingly convenient in situations almost； or
altogether； inaccessible to wheel…carriages。 The long crooks are
used for the carriage of corn in sheaf from the harvest…field to
the mowstead or barn； for the removal of furze； browse；
faggot…wood； and other light materials。 The writer of one of the
happiest effusions of the local muse；*＇10＇ with fidelity to nature
equal to Cowper or Crabbe； has introduced the figure of a
Devonshire pack…horse bending under the 'swagging load' of the
high…piled crooks as an emblem of care toiling along the narrow and
rugged path of life。 The force and point of the imagery must be
lost to those who have never seen （and； as in an instance which
came under my own knowledge； never heard of） this unique specimen
of provincial agricultural machinery。 The crooks are formed of two
poles；*＇11＇ about ten feet long； bent； when green； into the
required curve； and when dried in that shape are connected by
horizontal bars。 A pair of crooks； thus completed； is slung over
the pack…saddleone 'swinging on each side to make the balance
true。' The short crooks； or crubs； are slung in a similar manner。
These are of stouter fabric； and angular shape； and are used for
carrying logs of wood and other heavy materials。 The dung…pots； as
the name implies； were also much in use in past times； for the
removal of dung and other manure from the farmyard to the fallow or
plough lands。 The slide； or sledge； may also still occasionally
be seen in the hay or corn fields； sometimes without； and in other
cases mounted on low wheels； rudely but substantially formed of
thick plank； such as might have brought the ancient Roman's harvest
load to the barn some twenty centuries ago。〃
Mrs。 Bray says the crooks are called by the country people
〃Devil's tooth…picks。〃 A correspondent informs us that the queer
old crook…packs represented in our illustration are still in use in
North Devon。 He adds： 〃The pack…horses were so accustomed to their
position when travelling in line （going in double file） and so
jealous of their respective places； that if one got wrong and took
another's place； the animal interfered with would strike at the
offender with his crooks。〃
Footnotes for Chapter III。
*＇1＇ 'Three Years' Travels in England； Scotland； and Wales。'
By James Brome； M。A。； Rector of Cheriton； Kent。 London； 1726。
*＇2＇ The treatment the stranger received was often very rude。
When William Hutton； of Birmingham； accompanied by another gentleman；
went to view the field of Bosworth； in 1770； 〃the inhabitants；〃
he says； 〃set their dogs at us in the street； merely because we were
strangers。 Human figures not their own are seldom seen in these
inhospitable regions。 Surrounded with impassable roads； no
intercourse with man to humanise the mind。 nor commerce to smooth
their rugged manners； they continue the boors of Nature。〃
In certain villages in Lancashire and Yorkshire； not very remote from
large towns； the appearance of a stranger； down to a comparatively
recent period； excited a similar commotion amongst the villagers；
and the word would pass from door to door； 〃Dost knaw'im？〃 〃Naya。〃
〃Is 'e straunger？〃 〃Ey； for sewer。〃 〃Then paus' 'im 'Eave a duck
＇stone＇ at 'im Fettle 'im！〃 And the 〃straunger〃 would straightway
find the 〃ducks〃 flying about his head； and be glad to make his
escape from the village with his life。
*＇3＇ Scatcherd； 'History of Morley。'
*＇4＇ Murray's ' Handbook of Surrey； Hants； and Isle of Wight；' 168。
*＇5＇ Whitaker's 'History of Craven。'
*＇6＇ Scatcherd's 'History of Morley；' 226。
*＇7＇ Vixen Tor is the name of this singular…looking rock。 But it
is proper to add； that its appearance is probably accidental； the
head of the Sphynx being produced by the three angular blocks of
rock seen in profile。 Mr。 Borlase； however； in his ' Antiquities
of Cornwall；' expresses the opinion that the rock…basins on the
summit of the rock were used by the Druids for purposes connected
with their religious ceremonies。
*＇8＇ The provisioning of London； now grown so populous； would be
almost impossible but for the perfect system of roads now
converging on it from all parts。 In early times； London； like
country places； had to lay in its stock of salt…provisions against
winter； drawing its supplies of vegetables from the country within
easy reach of the capital。 Hence the London market…gardeners
petitioned against the ex