124 HORSE-SHOES AND HORSE-SHOEING. 



other conveyances, even in the less important expedi- 

 tions.' 



From the extensive employment of chariots, roads 

 must necessarily have existed in Gaul, — and, as we have 

 seen, this was the case ; only these roads, instead of being 

 like those of the Romans, which were substantial works of 

 masonry, were formed, it would appear, by the never- 

 ceasing passage of carriages over the same track. The 

 traces of these, however, only exist in rocky situations, 

 which have preserved the imprint of wheels, and even 

 o{ horses feet. These impressions are sometimes so deep, 

 in consequence of the long and oft-repeated action of the 

 carriages during centuries, that, in certain places, the road 

 is literally channeled or trenched ; and on the stony sides 

 of these passes, marks can be plainly seen which have been 

 caused by the axletrees scraping them in passing through. 

 These marks testify to the height of the nave, and con- 

 sequently of the wheels. 



MM. Delacroix and Castan, with Captain Bial of the 

 French artillery, have lately discovered good specimens of 

 these Celtic roads in the Jura, at Trochatay, Moutier- 

 Granval, and Alaise. ' At the latter place the road is most 

 characteristic, where it leads from the valley to the summit 

 of a hill on which stood this old Gallic city. How can the 

 extraordinary effects produced on the living rock by horses' 

 feet be explained, if we do not admit that from remote an- 

 tiquity iron shoes were in use ?' So asks M. Megnin, and 

 apparently with good cause. We have before remarked, 

 that not the faintest trace of wear which could be attributed 

 to horses' feet has been found on any of the Roman roads, 



' Caesar. De Bello Gallica, viii. 14. 



