34* STUDIES OF NATURE 



for her drefs, and of the fhells called the knife- 

 handle, for her fon Sijone (ib), a triton ftole away 

 her apple, which flie had depoficed upon a rock, 

 and carried it to the Goddefs of the Seas. Tbefis 

 immediately planted it's feeds in the neighbouring 

 country, in order to perpetuate the memory of her 

 revenge, and of her triumph. This is the reafon, 

 fay the Celtic Gauls, of the great number of apple- 

 trees which grow in their Country, and of the lin- 

 gular beauty of their young women (17). 



Winter came on, and 1 am unable to exprefs my 

 aftoniQiment to you, when I beheld, for the firft 

 time, the Heavens diifolve into white plumage, 

 refembling that of birds, the water of the fountains 

 become hard as ftone, and the trees entirely flrip- 

 ped of their foliage. 1 had never feen the like in 

 Egypt. I had no doubt but that the Gauls would 

 immediately expire, like the plants, and the ele- 

 ments, of their Country; and, undoubtedly, the 

 rigour of the climate would foon have put an end 

 to my career, had they not taken the greateft 

 care to clothe me with furs. But how eafy it is 

 for a perfon, without experience, to be deceived ! 

 I was entirely ignorant of the refources of Nature; 

 for every feafon, as well as for every climate. 

 Winter is, to tbofe Northern Nations, a time of 

 fcftivity, and of abundance. The river-birds, the 

 elks, the bufialos, the hares^ the deer, and the 



wild- 



