16: Part Two: On Watership Down. Chapter 18. Watership Down 16.1 Burrowkeeping I am going to ask for some feedback on the notes. Are they useful? Or have you not looked at them? Please let me know what you think. This can be a comment on the facebook page or an email to [email protected]. Or @thewatershipdo1 on Twitter. And do remember you can get your voice on this podcast by leaving a voice message at https://anchor.fm/watershipdown/message. 16.2 Chalk Downland You might be wondering why a high place would be called a "Down". The word originates from the Old English word "dūn" (doon) meaning "hill". I don't know how this relates to the word "dune" as in a sand-dune, if at all. In the case of Watership Down the summit is 237 m (778 ft) above sea level and is one of the highest points in the county of Hampshire, on the Hampshire Downs in the South of England. As the main setting of our story is about to switch to this very British geological setting, I think it best to just explain its nature a little. On the high downs there are no streams at all, no cave-systems, no waterfalls and no natural ponds. This is because chalk is very porous and water is just absorbed through it, so there is no way for water to run off on the surface when there isn't an ice-age in progress. And no way for it to erode the soft chalk to create caves. If you ever see a scene in any portrayal of WD set near the Warren, in which there is a stream, waterfall, cave-system or pond, that scene is displaying an ignorance of the basic geology of the very place the book is named after. If you want excitement and drama in a portrayal of WD, look to the rabbits. Not the rocks. 16.3 Introduction to Part Two What our heroes are about to do is going to have to become a lot more than just setting up a place where they can survive. If their new home is to have any prospect of succeeding, it will need to become something far more civilian in character: a sustainable community. 16.4 Chapter 18. Watership Down The opening quote from William Blake is an effective reminder that the dream of a new home is about to become reality. Hazel and his companions are sheltering beneath some trees at the foot of the "turf cliff" of the scarp-slope of Watership Down. Since the Warren of the Snares, any doubts about their abilities have disappeared. This has been demonstrated by their working together during the rat attack. As the sun gets lower in the sky, the rabbits emerge to feed. Hazel suggests he go to the top to scout it out. He chooses Dandelion and Hawkbit to come with him, as they seem less tired. He sees Dandelion up ahead, standing out clearly against the sky. Alarmed he rushes towards him. At this point Dandelion says one of the phrases that seems most loved by fans of the 1978 film, in which it features prominently: "Come and look! You can see the whole world". The ground they are on has become more level. They are at the top of the Down and it is immediately obvious that they will have clear view of the approach of any danger here. Fiver was right. They realise Hawkbit is missing and wonder if he has turned back or come to harm. They come across a little group of stunted trees surrounding a dry bank that is commonly found on downs and there they find Hawkbit, who has found some old rabbit holes there. Hawkbit's discovery has probably saved lives and Hazel says to go and fetch the others straight away. And so they all arrive safe on Watership Down. 16.5 Next episode In the next episode the rabbits start to plan for their new home...and something terrifying approaches. Vocab: Tharn: paralysed by fear.

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