86 BRIT AN NY AND THE CHASE. 



game brought in froiu the country every market-day. 

 From 50 to 100 hares, same quantity of partridges or 

 more, all displayed in open market, and perhaps double the 

 quantity sold in private ; it is wonderful how the game 

 is sustained. It is evident there must be a good stock ; 

 but it is the difficult nature of the country, the large woods 

 and impassable tracts of gorse which preserve it, and these 

 bid defiance to the slender means of the generality of 

 chasseurs. 



There has been a great deal of activity of late as to 

 English powder. Whether it be really superior to the 

 French or not, it is much cheaper — only half the price; 

 and therefore it is much sought by the natives, to whom 

 the saving of a sou is an inducement to do anything. In 

 a quiet way a good deal has been brought over, in spite 

 of the law, which absolutely forbids it, and the authorities 

 have been poking about, trying to discover the importers. 

 But in fact they are " legion." French gentlemen return- 

 ing from the " Exhibition," English travellers and sailors, 

 all put a pound of powder in their pockets. Ladies too 

 engage in the trade, and think a successful landing of 

 powder an exploit of note. Not only gentlemen bring it 

 over, but they are the chief consumers, and this has greatly 

 puzzled the authorities, who, like "corbies," do not like to 

 "pick out each other's 'een." For instance the head of the 

 douane would have to attack the head of the " contribu- 

 tions indirectes," who in his turn would not fail to assess 

 him heavily the next time the period for so doing should 

 come round. If he pounced on the maire, adieu to his 

 dinners at the mairie, and ditto as to the sous-prefet ; so 



