﻿THE SHEPHERDS OF LES BAS LANDES. 67 



climate is very unhealthy, the heat in summer being scorching, and 

 in winter the marshes are enveloped in dense fogs. From the 

 level nature of the land, and from the fact that a considerable por- 

 tion of it is under water, the shepherds have recourse to stilts, and 

 the dexterity which is manifested in their management has often 

 elicited wonder and admiration from the passing traveller, who 

 rarely meets with many traces of civilization. You will see a pic- 

 ture of one of these shepherds on the preceding page. There 

 he sits from morning till night, knitting away, and watching 

 his flock. The shepherds in these parts are very careful of their 

 flocks, whose docility is remarkable. Not less so is the good under- 

 standing between the sheep and the dogs. The celerity with which 

 the shepherds draw their flocks around them is not more astonish- 

 ing than the process by which they effect it is simple and beautiful. 

 If they are at no great distance from him, he gives a peculiar whis- 

 tle, and they leave off feeding, and obey the call ; if they are afar 

 off and scattered, he utters a shrill cry, and instantly the flocks are 

 seen leaping over the swamps, and scampering towards him. When 

 they have mustered around him, the shepherd sets off on his return 

 to the cabin, or resting place he has secured, and the flock follow 

 behind, like so many well-trained hounds. Their fine looking dogs, 

 a couple of which are generally attached to each flock, have nobler 

 duties to perform than that of chasing the animals together, and 

 biting the legs of stragglers. To their protection is confided the 

 flock from the predatory expeditions of wolves and bears, against 

 whose approach they are continually on the watch, and to whom 

 they at once offer battle. So well aware are the sheep of the 

 fatherly care of these dogs, and that they themselves have nothing 

 to fear from them, that they crowd around them as if they really 

 sought their protection, and dogs and sheep may be seen resting 

 together in perfect harmony. Thus habituated to scenes of such 

 gentleness and magnanimity, the shepherds themselves are brave, 

 generous, and humane, and though, as may be imagined, for the 

 most part plunged in the deepest ignorance, are highly sensitive 

 among themselves to the slightest dereliction from the strict paths 

 of true morality. 



