An Ascent of Mont Ventoux 



mediate future, I must consult Torricelli's 

 tube a little less often. 



As the temperature grows too cold for 

 them, first the oak and the ilex disappear by 

 degrees; then the vine and the almond-tree; 

 and next the mulberry, the walnut-tree and 

 the white oak. Box becomes plentiful. 

 We enter upon a monotonous region extend- 

 ing from the end of the cultivated fields to 

 the lower boundary of the beech-woods, 

 where the predominant plant is Satureia mon- 

 tana, the winter savory, known here by its 

 popular name of pebre d'ase, Ass's pepper, 

 because of the acrid flavour of its tiny leaves, 

 impregnated with essential oil. Certain 

 small cheeses forming part of our stores are 

 powdered with this strong spice. Already 

 more than one of us is biting into them in 

 imagination and casting hungry glances at 

 the provision-bags carried by the Mule. Our 

 hard morning exercise has brought appetite 

 and more than appetite, a devouring hunger, 

 what Horace calls latrans stomachus. I 

 teach my colleagues how to stay this rum- 

 bling stomach until they reach the next halt; 

 I show them a little sorrel-plant, with arrow- 

 head leaves, the Rumex scutatus, or French 

 sorrel; and, practising what I preach, I pick 

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