The soil always gray. Some small, separate
houses, which seem to be the residence of laborers, or very small
farmers; the walls frequently of mud, and the roofs generally covered
with slate. Great plantations of walnut, and frequently of pine. Some
apple trees and sweet-briar still in bloom, and broom generally so. I
have heard no nightingale since the last day of May. There are gates
in this country made in such a manner, that the top rail of the gate
overshoots backwards the hind post, so as to counterpoise the gate, and
prevent its swagging.
_Nantes_. Vessels of eight feet draught only can come to Nantes. Those
which are larger, lie at Painboeuf, ten leagues below Nantes, and five
leagues above the mouth of the river. There is a continued navigation
from Nantes to Paris, through the Loire, the canal de Briare and the
Seine. Carolina rice is preferred to that of Lombardy for the Guinea
trade, because it requires less water to boil it.
June 6, 7, 8. _Nantes. Ancenis. Angers. Tours_. Ascending the Loire
from Nantes, the road, as far as Angers, leads over the hills, which are
gray, oftener below than above mediocrity, and in corn, pasture, vines,
some maize, flax, and hemp.
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