l3a4. ^' t^^c Bajfes Pyretiea in francs'^ 173 



both the hands held open together f, with twice as much bran, 

 is allowed to each hundred fticep every day ; this is given in 

 three portions, in the morning, at mid-Hay, and in the even- 

 ing, fpread on a large (lone ; or, fometimes, each animal re- 

 ceives ks portion out of the fliepherd's hand, in the month of 

 June, when tlie grafs is fucculent and tender, only about a third 

 part of the above quantity is allowed. When at the largell al- 

 lowance, it takes about thirty-eight pounds of fait every month 

 for a hundred ftieep. 



Mifcellaneous Obfervations, 



The mountains near Cauterets produce a much larger quanti- 

 ty of grafs than can be confumed, during fummer, by the flocks 

 of that country ; and the inhabitants are prevented from increaf- 

 ing the number of their flieep, becaufe of the fcarcity of win-* 

 ter provifions, which they have not hitherto fufBcient induflry 

 to increafe, as far as is neceflary, and even pradivcable. Owing 

 to this circumftance, part of the paHures are annually let on: 

 to Spanifh (hepherds, who bring vaft flocks of (heep to graze 

 on thefe hills during the fummer, and drive them off about the 

 end of Oi^ober, towards the plains of Spain. From the want 

 of fodder, thefe mountaineers are likewife obliged annually to fell 

 off a part of their ftock, about the -end of autumn, keeping* 

 only fuch a number as they think fufficient for their ftore of 

 hay and aftermath. At this time they fell a great number of 

 young (heep and wedders of five and fix years old. I am cre- 

 dibly informed that the Spaniards, of the neighbourhood of SaN 

 ragofTa and Barcelona, purchafe annually from twenty-five to 

 thirty thoufand from this mountainous diftri£t, and the plain of 

 Tarbes. I am likewife informed that the fheep which are in- 

 tended for this fale are (horn of their fleeces the preceding De- 

 cember, inftead of waiting till the ufual (hearing time in July : 

 by this practice the buyer acquires a fleece of ten months growth 

 along with the carcafe •, and thus the Spaniards profit both by 

 the paftures and fleeces of France. In the year 1762 each bead:, 

 weighing about fifty-four pounds on an average, fold for fix li- 

 vres, or fix livres fix fols *. 



The fleeces are (horn in fummer, about the fifth of July, tak- 

 ing care to chufe good weather, and beginning early in the 

 morning. About an inch of wool is left to proteft the animal 

 againft rain, fnow, hail, and cold. All other circumftanccs be- 

 ing 



f What is called in Scotland a goupin. 

 * Ab^wt five an4 fixpence Sterling, 



