Neither asses nor mules: yet it
is said that the fine mules I have met with on my journey, are raised
in Poictou. There are but few _chateaux_ here. I observe mill-ponds, and
hoes with long handles. Have they not, in common with us, derived
these from England, of which Bretagne is probably a colony? L'Orient is
supposed to contain twenty-five thousand inhabitants. They tell me here,
that to make a reasonable profit on potash and pearlash, as bought in
America, the former should sell at thirty livres, the latter thirty-six
livres, the quintal. Of turpentine they make no use in their vessels.
Bayonne furnishes pitch enough; but tar is in demand, and ours sells
well. The tower of L'Orient is sixty-five _pieds_ above the level of
the sea, one hundred and twenty _pieds_ high, twenty-five _pieds_ in
diameter; the stairs four feet radius, and cost thirty thousand livres,
besides the materials of the old tower.
June 3, 4, 5. The country and productions from L'Orient to Rennes, and
from Rennes to Nantes, are precisely similar to those from Nantes to
L'Orient. About Rennes, it is somewhat leveller, perhaps less poor, and
almost entirely in pasture.
Pages:
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353