New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-13
THE LONDON Cattle MARKEE


more thoroughly metamorphosed than old Copenha-
gen-folds. The Manor House Tavern, and the pad
docks and Pastures and grounds. where few years
ago LOndOners sought semi-ruTa diversion have all
! disappeared and the Metropolitan Cattle Market
and Us adJdnciS and approaches flourish instead.
smlihneu' Deionglngt to the past has given way to
the lslingtOn site, where there is ample room and
verge enough to supply twice a week the animal
food-wants OF the capital. Than this elevated pla-
team OF many there is no finer position round
London The air is salubrious and the scenery to-
ward the north and the east is unsurpassed for pic
turesqne, quiet beauty. The clOck-ower III the cen
ter and the four lofty tayerns one at each of
the market, define ~ position from distance. The
extensive iron railing Onamented with horned
heads OF oxen. are III admirable taste All the gates
| thrown open at lOA on Sunday night. and from
that time until IL groups of drovers with their dogs
may be seen lOungng about the doors of the tayerns
The drover Is rough-looking uncouth individual
The dress III vogue among the class Is q cap. col
Ored necktle, clOse-iitng, buttOnod-up coat and
sometimes on apron, tight corduroy tr0wsers, and
tnck-soled shoes. His metal badge is buckled on
his lett arm, ana he carries long stout ash stick
with knob or short iron spike at the end The ac
yIty OF the droyers dog equal to its extraordinary
intelligence. If we may judge from the readiness
with which II VIII at ell times rush in upon flock
and seize sheep. 1t is Sunday night starlight and
fine and the crescent moon is low down in the east
en- sky. The lights gmmeT around and far of and
away IN the distance OH the crests of Hampstead
and Highgate, and Muswell-hill. clusters of lamps
shine like Watch-tOweIs, breaking the nocturnal
gloom OF the horizon. The air is crisp and rather
keen, and feels as bracng as it would be 20 miles
from town. Up to II o'clock the stiffness of the
night broken only by the rumblng noise of trains
on the adjacent lines of railway, the shTIl whistle OF
the guards the quarter hour chimes of the clock and
the believing OF cattle in the long line of "laiTs'
the south side of the market. The clock no sooner
strikes - than sensible change begins, grows, deep
ems, and ntensies until the dawn. The gas through
out the market is being lit up; now and then horse
audcaIt full of cOed pieces of rope is led in by a
man. who distributes his load at the corners of
alleys where oxen are 20 be driven and secured
Men also with similar burdens on their backs wend
their steps to various points and lay down coils
of rope Nearly all the cattle British and foreign
have been housed in the lars during the night, and
now that they are disturbed in their rest the lowing
grows louder, more general, and widespread. The
alleys are numbered and have been allotted 10 the
several sellers beforehand The required pen-space
for the sheep is also known to those in charge of the
flucks so that night as It ~, the drOyers know the
exact spot IN this tortuotb wilderness of stalls to
drive 10 and occupy
The first lot Of cattle now trot mp the avenue from
the lair and guided by three or four droyers halOo
ing and shouting are driven into an alley, where,
after some maneuyering. they are ranged in order
Each Is th0n tied round the neck, with the
thick ropes lying on tho pavement, to the
tOpnOst beam. In quick succession more cattle come
in, driven TO their alleys aud secured In similar
manner. Large fiOcks Of sheep also make their APP
pearance. BY this time the whole air - filled with
nOse-with the most discOrdant sounds that can
break the solemn stiffness of night or that can be
conceived as the most striking antltheses 10 touches
Of harmony. The lowing OF the oxen, sounding at
intervals mOurnful and sad rs 10 make one believe
they knew that their doom was at hand; the bleang
of the sheep in variety Of cadences and keys the
baying and the barking Of dogs large and small; the
shouting the yelling. and the whstllng OF the drOy-
crs, men aud boys-all produce an acoustic tumnit
which IL enough TO amaze and cOntOund new conner
and make an impression that can never be erased
Yet out of all this noise and confusion OF tongues
come regularity and order. Some dTOyers, with Ian
terms tlt about through the gloom like will-o-th-
wsps while Others carry torches OF taTred rope, and
thus give themselves light to place" the sheep IN
the pens. This seems a very tedious y zee OF work
In the midst of the din and uproar, one circqm-
stance is most remarkable and strking-the wonder
ful aCtiyityand spirit OF both men and boys during
the whole time that the oxen and sheep are pouring
in through the gates In driving those Hooks and
herds in the dark great skill, and quick ness, and
vigilance are constantly brought into play. And
when the cattle aud sheep of different owners happen
~ get intcrmiXed. the adroitness with which they
are separated and sorted is matter OF surprise
1t sometimes happens that in driving the beasts INTO
the alleys refractory OK breaks away from lts lei
lows and scampers of in the dark. An exciting
chase then takes place. and the stentOrian voice OF
the droveT, raised TO the highest pitch Is distinctly
heard above the general din, until the truant Is over
taken, turned back, and secured .
The four taverns open at o'clock for the accom-
mediation Of drOycrs, but no one else. very sorry
! can I accommodate YOU SIR but "a you re not
drOyer Z would he against the rules 10 serve you:
-Four o'clock Is the time for the general public SIR
And one of the general public returns 10 the mar
ket and continues his wanderings and wonderlngs
amid the turbulent scene
More cattle, more sheep, with their usual accom-
panimens of drovers and dogs. still continue 10 be
driven in, and on 10 the places assigned them. Now,
the voices Of the night receive fresh elements of
strength if not Of sweetness by the arrival Of
nd.and-milk white calves. and piebald, black, and
black and white pigs. These members of the animal
kingdom compile the matutinal concerts unless IN
decd few OF the most uproarious denizens OF the
Geological Gardens were 10 be added, nothing could
improve upon the latest addition. Is black the lash
iuiHblc color of the pigi Very few OF any Other
color are this morning To be seen; but whatever the
prevailing dye of the skin may be- the voice OF the
bls Is ALWAYS the same. How the chorus of a con-
grr, of swine resounds under the roofo their shed
The sharp squeak OF the young and the deep gnttera
gIpt Of the old given with wonderful gusto
ard power. Large is the market, spectator soon
becomes observed by those who are occupied there
aud all of whom seem TO know each other Ihey
look with evident suspicion lounger but are not
uncyil, and answer all questions IN blum, rapid
way. The only audible remark made was We've
got something fresh this morning, Bll; Aye
| says William; " wonder what's up, Jim"
The stars are paling their Intellectual fires, the
moon is sunk under q rift cloud streaks of daylight
appear in the east. and the sky looks murky ana
eve are put out one by one, and the glorious night
with its spacious armament, its blue, ethereal sky,
and its span gled heavens, Is succeeded by morning
of rain. The beasts and sheep have all come, the
uproar which has been kept mp for some hours has
diminished by degrees and the area OF the market Is
comparatively still. And now IN the Droad Day
light a curious spectacle IS seen; on one side, the
long files of oxen. various IN color ana size, many
leaking fierce under restraint and their horns rang
ing like lines OF cherdnIdeJrse win lne salesheh
in charge; and the other side, thousands OF sheep
with men here and there filling hundreds OF pens
After o'clock dog is allowed TO wander at large;
and dozens Of them are fastened under one OF the
sheds where they seem Ill at ease and growl, bark
and howl until they're released. Now. the buyers
Ithe butchers) are coming thick and fast. A few
roll ND in cabs; but the great bulk OF them ride IN
| their own snug traps which they leave in rank
and close order in the road outside the ratings,
each vehicle being backed close up to
trans London and all the districts around are well
represented by buyers. Blue aud white coats are
! now i'm the ascendant scattered over the market,
minqling with the statesmen; the jolly-looking
! 1armers old midde-aged, and young, many of them
wearing broad brmmed hats, drab coats, and great
leather boots and some with huge umbrellas, which,
nnencd remind one of the dome of st. Pauls The
farmer or salesman, and the butcher or buyer look