Page:Transactions of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, volume 2.djvu/141



As there is no species of domestic occupation, such as spinning, knitting, &c. to which the females of the class of peasantry can apply themselves, they are much employed in the labours of the field; and, indeed, these, and the cares of the dairy, constitute their whole employment. They are all excellent equestrians, a circumstance arising from the comparatively rare use of carts to convey the productions of the farm to the weekly markets. Hundreds of women may be seen, on a market day, riding, often at full speed, with their baskets, and supported only by their own skill of equipoise, on a pad, without stirrup, and only with a common halter.

There are a few peculiar customs still prevalent among the people, which it is proper to notice in this place, without, however, entering into any detail. Of this kind are the rustic festivals known by the name of saint, church, or parish feasts, which, like most of the ancient fetes, now exist in very degenerate splendour. "The saint's feast is kept," to use the words of Carew, "upon the dedication day, by every householder of the parish, within his own doors, each entertaining such foreign acquaintance as will not fail, when their like turn cometh about, to requite him with the like kindness."

The fete is kept up, for two or three days, with more or less spirit, and an adjournment is always made to the village ale-house, where dancing and drinking are more liberally enjoyed than at home. On these occasions the men are, as might be expected, often intoxicated. The ancient festivals called church ales, usually held on the whitsuntide holidays, are now entirely obsolete in this district. This is also true of the rude plays or mysteries called