34© STUDIES OF NATURE. 



people, wbofe calamities they folace. flruck, at 

 frequently finding in them, a more difcriminating 

 underftanding than in their Chiefs, without pene- 

 trating into the caufes of it, take a pleafure in 

 afcribing to them fomething divine (15). 



Thus, the Gauls pafs fucceffively and rapidly 

 from forrow to fear, and from fear to joy. The 

 Druids terrify them, the larles abufe them, and 

 the women make them laugh, dance, and ling. 

 Their religion, their laws, and their manners, be- 

 ing perpetually at variance, they live in a ftate of 

 continual fluctuation, which conftitutes their prin- 

 cipal charaâ:er. Hence, alfo, may be derived the 

 reafon why they are fo very curious about news, 

 and fo defirous of knowing what pafTes among flran- 

 gers. It is for this reafon, that fo many are to be 

 found in foreign countries, which they are fond of 

 vifiting, like all men who are unhappy at home. 



They defpife hufbandmen, and, of confeqnence, 

 neglect agriculture, which is the bafis of public 

 profperity. . When v/e landed in their country, 

 they cultivated only thofe grains which come to 

 perfedion in the fpace of a Summer, fuch as 

 beans, lentiles, oats, fmall millet, rye, and bar- 

 ley. Very little wheat is to be feen there. Ne- 

 verihelcfs, the earth abounds with natural produc- 

 tions. There is a profufion of excellent pafture by 



the 



