THE UNDERCLIFF OF THE ISLE OF 'WIGHT.
The Undercliff of the Isle of Wight. By John L. Whitehead, M.D. (Simpkin, Marshall and Co. 10s. 6d. net.)—The "Undercliff" is a strip of land some five and a half miles in length, with a breadth varying from a half to a quarter of a mile, and contains portions of six parishes— Bonchurch, New church, Godshill, St. Lawrence, Whit- well, and Niton. That so many parochial divisions should exist in a region of about two square miles in area seems strange. Dr. Whitehead tells us that one suggested reason is the value of a bit of sea front. This is confirmed by the fact that the same arrangement is found in the Thames Valley. where rawly parishes have access to the river—a more important thoroughfare once than it is now. Of this region, then, Dr. Whitehead gives us a very full and interesting account. He begins with prehistoric times, and brings us down to the present day, which has brought the district a great reputation as a health and pleasure resort. He does not confine himself strictly to the Undercliff. He has examined the records of all the parishes and gives us many particulars —genealogical, ecclesiastical, and social—of the history of their inhabitants. Some of these are very curious. Parsons and their tithes figure among them : what a business it mist have been to collect in cases where it had to be paid in kind—where the parson, for instance, claimed the shoulder of a calf when it was sold to a butcher I And here is a grim little story about the Steepbill
fishermen. They used to bait their lobster and crab pots with carrion. A writer says in 1770: "It may not be improper to hint to the gentlemen of the island that, whenever they lose a dog, they cannot seek first in a more likely spot." Some of the comments quoted by Dr. Whitehead are of considerable economic interest. Such is the survey of Niton Manor in 1609. It was largely copy- hold. The oopyhold payments amount to £11 ls. ld. and the leasehold to .C6 4s. (for 829 acres), whereas the " value to lease " comes to a total of .2152 7s. The tenants, on the other hand, had to give so many days' work and to furnish a heriot when the tenement passed from a holder to his heir.
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