352 Mr Arnotfs Tour to the South of' France 



these also serve as hedges ; the cattle do not dislike the youn^ 

 shoots, and the old plants serve as fuel to heat the bakers' ovens. 

 Few plants deserve so well as these the application of the Scot- 

 tish motto, " Nemo me impune lacesset^'' as they are covered 

 with an infinity of tufts of minute bristles, sharper than needles, 

 and barbed backwards. The state of the fields shew that much 

 more dependence is put on the favours of nature than on the 

 efforts of art. The olive, the carob tree, the vines, and the 

 corn crops, were almost always mixed so closely together, as to 

 impress the idea, that, if any one of them afforded a good re- 

 turn, it was owing to the strength of vegetation alone. 



The day after our arrival (the 2d June) was the Fete Dieu. 

 Such peasants as were in town were all neatly dressed, and 

 most of the men wore the red Catalonian bonnet. In the even- 

 ing, we took our places to see the procession. As I believe this 

 was nearly the same as in Italy, there is no occasion for me to 

 describe it in detail. I shall merely remark, that the first that 

 made their appearance amidst the thunder of the artillery, were 

 two enormous puppets, representing a giant and giantess, about 

 twelve or fifteen feet high, supported, of course, on the shoul- 

 ders of men concealed within their dress : behind them came a 

 man on an ass, beating a kettle-drum, and then a band of mi- 

 litary music. This scene w^as intended to represent the flight 

 of the pagans before the true religion. It was, however, un- 

 happily executed, as the two figures were in no haste, but every 

 now and then stopped, and danced for about a minute to the sound 

 of the music. Nor do the Barcelona ladies think that these pagans 

 are a bad sort of people, as the giantess gives out the fashion 

 for the female dress for the ensuing twelvemonth. The streets 

 were lined by the military, who, as well as the multitude present, 

 fell on their knees, when the canopy containing the last symbol, 

 that of the body and blood of our Saviour, made its appear- 

 ance. This had certainly a fine effect, and a great show of de- 

 votion ; but the charm was speedily broken. Scarcely was the 

 symbol past, when all order and regularity were ended: they had 

 seen all they wished, — confusion was the order of the day, — 

 every one jostled his neighbour, and endeavoured to reach his 

 home as quickly as possible. Flowers of the Spanish broom, 

 or Spartkim Junceum, were scattered from the windows on the 



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