116 GRArE CULTURE AND WINE-MAKING. 



into a hall and through several empty rooms ; at last we discov- 

 ered a little girl, who was the consul's daughter. She informed 

 us that her father had left for his office in the morning ; that if he 

 was not there she did not know where he was. This was very 

 disagreeable news to us ; for, had it not been for our passports, we 

 could have started at six o'clock in the morning, but we were de- 

 layed by this for the two o'clock train, and, from all appearance, 

 would be liable even to miss that, and be left here over-night. 

 This was uselessly wasting time, which was most precious to me, 

 to say nothing of extra expenses. Keturning to the office, and 

 not finding the consul, I suggested to the lad to sign it himself, 

 and state the absence of the consul. This was not legal, nor had 

 the boy any authority whatever to do it ; but, thinking the whole 

 affair a fuss, and that the principal part was passed — namely, of 

 taking the eleven and a half francs, I saw no harm in making the 

 fiiss bigger. The lad, after some hesitation, signed ; we then pro- 

 ceeded to the Spanish consul, who, after stamping and signing, 

 asked us for ten francs. We arrived just in time for the cars. 



We were traveling eight hours from Bordeaux to Bayonne, 

 and a more desolate and dreary country I have not seen since 

 my arrival in Europe. It consists of immense plains, which are 

 sandy, and only now and then possessing some pitch pine. Even 

 these trees are of recent plantation. They are employed in mak- 

 ing turpentine. These landes, as they are called, produce a kind 

 of chapparal, but it is only from a foot to eighteen inches high. 

 On these plains there are now and then seen some miserable 

 sheep, guarded by men or women on stilts. As their flesh is so 

 poor, what must their wool be ? They resemble very much our 

 Mexican sheep, only they are not so large nor so good-looking. 

 But of all that is here seen, it is the stilts of the shepherds that 

 is most noteworthy : they are from four to five feet high, and 

 their owners remain on them the whole day without getting 

 down. From this height they are better able to see their sheep 

 in the bushes, and walk through the mud when there is any. 



We arrived at the hotel at ten o'clock, and soon turned in. 



Sept. 20. Bayonne. — In the morning we took a walk through 

 the city. We visited its monuments and markets ; in the latter 

 the vegetables were very fine, and the grapes good and sweet. 

 We ascertained that very little wine was raised in this vicinity. 



In the River Gave, which runs through Bayonne, were an- 

 chored several large vessels. The two parts of the town arc join- 



