54 SKETCHES OF RURAL AFFAIRS. 



they have reached their journey's end, they build them- 

 selves rude huts, living generally a single life. Large 

 flocks are managed by several shepherds, and that every- 

 thing may be done with regularity, one of the most ex- 

 perienced is set over the rest. The times of their wan- 

 derings are in May and September, and the whole jour- 

 ney is the same which has been taken for ages. The 

 sheep know the way as well as their masters ; and a free 

 passage is granted to them through pastures, villages, 

 <fcc., where the inhabitants are obliged to leave an open- 

 ing for them, at least ninety paces wide. The shep- 

 herds, on their part, have to leave them as quickly as 

 possible, that they may not do unnecessary damage, and 

 that they may reach certain resting-places where they 

 find an open space and good pasture. 



In some parts of France the shepherds live a similar 

 life. More than a hundred thousand sheep graze on the 

 plains of Aries in winter ; but as the spring approaches, 

 they show the greatest eagerness to set off towards the 

 mountains bordering on Italy ; and if not watched, they 

 will escape and be lost. The shepherds set out in May 

 for these mountains, driving their sheep in troops of 

 from ten to forty thousand. To every thousand sheep 

 three shepherds are allowed ; each of whom has his dog, 

 and in the middle of the flock a troop of asses carrying 

 baggage. A chief shepherd is chosen, by the general 

 consent of his companions, to direct the march, to deal 

 out the daily share of provisions, and to listen to the 

 complaints of farmers, when damage is done upon the 

 road. The shepherds' dogs are assisted in a remarkable 

 way by goats, in the task of keeping these large flocks 

 in order. The goats are specially trained for the pur- 

 pose, and have bells round their necks. They are kept 

 in perfect discipline by the shepherds, and show great 

 intelligence in the performance of their task. They 

 halt or proceed by word of command, and at the close of 

 each day's march, they come to the centre of the flock, 

 and wait there until the morning, when, having received 



