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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 extension of tumpike…roads about a century
ago； as they afterwards petitioned against the extension of
railways； fearing lest their trade should be destroyed by the
competition of country…grown cabbages。 But the extension of the
roads had become a matter of absolute necessity； in order to feed
the huge and ever…increasing mouth of the Great Metropolis； the
population of which has grown in about two centuries from four
hundred thousand to three millions。 This enormous population has；
perhaps； never at any time more than a fortnight's supply of food
in stock； and most families not more than a few days； yet no one
ever entertains the slightest apprehension of a failure in the
supply； or even of a variation in the price from day to day in
consequence of any possible shortcoming。 That this should be so；
would be one of the most surprising things in the history of modern
London； but that it is sufficiently accounted for by the
magnificent system of roads； canals； and railways； which connect it
with the remotest corners of the kingdom。 Modern London is mainly
fed by steam。 The Express Meat…Train； which runs nightly from
Aberdeen to London； drawn by two engines and makes the journey in
twenty…four hours； is but a single illustration of the rapid and
certain method by which modem London is fed。 The north Highlands
of Scotland have thus； by means of railways； become grazing…grounds
for the metropolis。 Express fish trains from Dunbar and Eyemouth
（Smeaton's harbours）； augmented by fish…trucks from Cullercoats and
Tynemouth on the Northumberland coast； and from Redcar； Whitby； and
Scarborough on the Yorkshire coast； also arrive in London every
morning。 And what with steam…vessels bearing cattle； and meat and
fish arriving by sea； and canal…boats laden with potatoes from
inland； and railway…vans laden with butter and milk drawn from a
wide circuit of country； and road…vans piled high with vegetables
within easy drive of Covent Garden； the Great Mouth is thus from
day to day regularly； satisfactorily； and expeditiously filled。
*＇9＇ The white witches are kindly disposed； the black cast the
〃evil eye；〃 and the grey are consulted for the discovery of theft；
&c。
*＇10＇ See 'The Devonshire Lane'； above quoted
*＇11＇ Willow saplings； crooked and dried in the required form。
CHAPTER IV。
ROADS AND TRAVELLING IN SCOTLAND IN THE LAST CENTURY。
The internal communications of Scotland； which Telford did so much
in the course of his life to improve； were； if possible； even worse
than those of England about the middle of last century。 The land
was more sterile； and the people were much poorer。 Indeed； nothing
could be more dreary than the aspect which Scotland then presented。
Her fields lay untilled； her mines unexplored； and her fisheries
uncultivated。 The Scotch towns were for the most part collections
of thatched mud cottages； giving scant shelter to a miserable
population。 The whole country was desponding； gaunt； and haggard；
like Ireland in its worst times。 The common people were badly fed
and wretchedly clothed； those in the country for the most part
living in huts with their cattle。 Lord Kaimes said of the Scotch
tenantry of the early part of last century； that they were so
benumbed by oppression and poverty that the most able instructors
in husbandry could have made nothing of them。 A writer in the
'Farmer's Magazine' sums up his account of Scotland at that time in
these words：〃Except in a few instances； it was little better than
a barren waste。〃*＇1＇
The modern traveller through the Lothianswhich now exhibit
perhaps the finest agriculture in the worldwill scarcely believe
that less than a century ago these counties were mostly in the
state in which Nature had left them。 In the interior there was
little to be seen but bleak moors and quaking bogs。 The chief part
of each farm consisted of 〃out…field；〃 or unenclosed land； no