Gents Mag 1890 part 1 p.532
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Gentleman's Magazine 1890 part 1 p.532
to work the dogs in relays. A brace are taken out one day and rest the next. But at times of gathering for washing or shearing this plan is not always practicable, and all the dogs are working at once. Upon one such occasion, when a week of hard work had left an intelligent little bitch only two legs to run upon, she disappeared in a bracken bed under the crags. Thence she was not seen to emerge, nor could she be found. It was afterwards dscovered that she had brought forth five puppies, each of which she carried separately in her mouth a distance of five miles, returning, of course, over the same distance. Her treasures she snugly stowed away among the hay in the old barn. I have said that it is at the time of gathering in the sheep for washing or shearing that the dogs are hardest worked. When a fine spring has reduced the fell "becks" and the clear water lies deep in the pools, then it is that the washing of the sheep takes place. The water is now tepid; and by the side of the deepest pool a bit of bright turf is encircled by wooden hurdles, and a fold constructed. The shepherds have been out on the fells through the short summer night, and now down the corries long lines of sheep are seen approaching, though all converging to the rugged mountain road. The sheep and shepherds are met by a group of fell folk who have come to assist. These are the "statesmen" and their sons, dalesmen from the next valley, neighbouring herds, and often wome women. Sorting the sheep and depriving them of their lambs is gone through, the scene being meanwhile most animated - men shouting, dogs barking, sheep stamping and fighting the dogs, whilst others lightly top the hurdles, and attempt to make back to the fells. Two strapping yeomen wade into the pool to their middle, and the business of the day commences. The washing of six hundred sheep means a long summer's day work; and now all exert themselves to the utmost. Two men take each sheep by both hands and heave it into the pool. Here it is caught by the washers, well soused, and then allowed to swim to the opposite bank, where for a moment it stands dripping; then moves off to the sunny sward. Weighted with water, the creature is stunned for awhile, but soon begins to nibble the short herbage. During the whole of this time a constant bleating is kept up between the lambs and their dams; nor does it cease until they are brought together after the washing, when they are driven back to the fells. By this time every one engaged in the day's work has imbibed much strong ale; but hard work has rendered them none the worse for their deep draughts. Seeing the sheep sprinkled over the fells a few days after this, their coats are observed to be whiter and the wool more "fleecy." |
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