A dense row of carts extended from the police-station half across the space, these carts were filled with pigs, and had stout cord-nettings drawn over them, to prevent the animals escaping.

By the sides of these carts the principal business of the fair appeared to be going on--there stood the owners male and female, higgling with Llangollen men and women, who came to buy.

The pigs were all small, and the price given seemed to vary from eighteen to twenty-five shillings.

Those who bought pigs generally carried them away in their arms; and then there was no little diversion; dire was the screaming of the porkers, yet the purchaser invariably appeared to know how to manage his bargain, keeping the left arm round the body of the swine and with the right hand fast gripping the ear--some few were led away by strings.

There were some Welsh cattle, small of course, and the purchasers of these seemed to be Englishmen, tall burly fellows in general, far exceeding the Welsh in height and size.
Much business in the cattle-line did not seem, however, to be going on.
Now and then a big fellow made an offer, and held out his hand for a little Pictish grazier to give it a slap--a cattle bargain being concluded by a slap of the hand--but the Welshman generally turned away, with a half resentful exclamation.