Tools fm- Triiffle-Hiinting. 401 



which former mode, as far as I am acquainted with both, deserves 

 the preference. I shall treat of that with swine only superficially. 



§ 11. How long Triijjfle- Hunting has been practised. — The 

 methodical search of truffles with dogs or swine seems to be a 

 device of later times ; for I have discovered no traces of it in 

 ancient writings. Accordingly, the ancients appear to have sought 

 for truffles in the destructive mode above mentioned ; viz. by 

 digging up whole districts. 



In Italy, France, and Spain, where rare and exquisite delica- 

 cies were more and earlier esteemed, this mode of truffle- 

 searching was eai'lier known than in Germany. Nevertheless, 

 as may be conjectured from an observation of Geoffroy, it was 

 not practised in the first-mentioned countries before the middle 

 of the seventeenth century ; and in the beginning of the last it 

 was transferred to Germany. Stisser, in his History of German 

 Forests and Hunting, 1st ed. 1738, chap. vii. sect. 65., informs 

 us that, in consideration of his yearly delivering a quantity of 

 truffles, a privilege for the searching for truffles in the princi- 

 pality of Halberstadt was first given to Bernard Vanino, an 

 Italian; and that the proper hunters had nothing in common 

 with the truffle-hunters. 



In the court of the Grand-Duchy of Baden, the first truffle- 

 hunter existed about seventy years ago, and was a Frenchman. 

 It is true, this man carried on the search of truffles in a rather 

 expensive way ; but he may be said to have established the art, 

 since several persons whom he had employed in it learnt it from 

 him. The truffle-hunters at the other German courts were also 

 all Italians, Piedmontese, Savoyards, or Frenchmen, who made 

 truffle-searching with dogs the order of the day. 



§ 12. The requisite Tools for Truffle- Hunting. — The truffle- 

 hunter does not require for his chase an equipment so care- 

 fully made, and such a numerous collection of instruments, 

 as the huntsman. His tools are simple, and few in num- 

 ber. A hunting-bag is indispensably necessary for him, to 

 keep such truffles in as he may find, and for provision for 

 himself and his dogs ; to which, as is said below, a morsel, by 

 way of encouragement, must frequenUy be given. A sharp, 

 strong, not costly cutlass, is essentially useful, to cut the shrubs 

 and small roots which may obstruct his digging out the truffles. 

 I'he most necessary to him is a simple instrument, his principal 

 tool, with which the truffles are dug out. This consists of a 

 heart-shaped shovel, of from 3 to 4 inches in length, and 

 2>\ inches in breadth ; and of a hoe horizontally bent, of the 

 same size, and also heart-shaped. These two pieces must, by 

 means of two hoops, be both fastened upon one wooden shaft, of 

 about 2 ft. long ; the hoe to the upper, and the shovel to the 

 under, part of it. In using this instrument, the earth must be 



Vol. XIII. —No. 90. d d 



