WILD SPORT IN BRITTANY. 315 



our sticklers, twirled their whips and sticks with wondrous effect 

 in the face of the crowd ; and, besides maintaining the circle, per- 

 formed the further office of seeing fair play enacted between the 

 combatants. Then, the hubbub of the crowd as some favourite 

 champion stepped manfully into the ring, the shrill squeal of the 

 bagpipes and the rattle of the kettle-drums, created a din equalled 

 only for its discord by our betting-ring and race-course previous to 

 a grand event. 



It is impossible to overstate the picturesque appearance of the 

 whole assembly, dressed, as the peasants were, men and women, 

 in the holiday costume peculiar to their own Communes. That 

 of the men, although varying in shape and colour, resembled the 

 fashion of dress worn in the sixteenth century rather than that 

 of the present or any previous age. There was the trunk-hose; the 

 round, short blue or claret-coloured jacket and vest, studded 

 with buttons ; the broad garnished leathern belt, encircling the 

 waist and secured by a metal buckle, often of silver, and huge 

 dimensions ; and, lastly, the broad-brimmed hat and flowing hair, 

 to finish the quaint picture. But how shall I describe the 

 wonderful caps of the women, especially those from Rosporden, 

 Elliant, and Pont 1'Abbe, in the neighbourhood of Quimper, 

 some of which were decorated with straw plaits and some with 

 point lace, very dingy and apparently very precious ? They must 

 be seen to be understood ; and that can best be done by a visit 

 to Quimper on a fete or a fair-day, when the Bretonnes from the 

 neighbouring Communes throng into the town in all the variety 

 of their gay coiffures, voluminous petticoats, and tight-fitting 

 bodices. But, strange to say, that chief ornament of a woman, 

 the hair, is carefully hidden under the cap, and is only revealed 

 to the Paris perruquier, who pays periodical visits to that country, 

 and for a small sum, often nothing more than a cotton pocket- 

 handkerchief, secures a tress of golden hair that shortly after 

 probably adorns the head of some proud duchess, and puts a 



