AGKICULTURE O^' THE RHI>'E. 49 



had an extent of 400 morgens, or 250 acres, of which 41 

 morgens, or 22 acres, were underwood. Six horses and 

 twenty cows and heifers, all at grass in meadows skirting- 

 the little stream, formed the chief stock. The number ol 

 human assistants appeared out of all proportion. Thirty- 

 five men and women were in constant employment, and 

 in the harvest-time help was sought from strangers. The 

 owner pointed to an outhouse where both sexes lived pro- 

 miscuously, and declared himself unable to answer for the 

 morals of his labourers, whom we, of course without refei*- 

 ence to their immorality, termed his " Irishmen." The 

 resemblance was indeed too striking not to excite sym- 

 pathy. They w^ere peasants from thelieart of Westphalia, 

 and spoke low German^ a dialect that is neither in use for 

 writing nor for conversation amongst the educated classes. 

 Thus cut off from the means open to others of obtaining 

 information, their land for centuries untraversed by roads, 

 and under strict clerical rule, the appearance of these poor 

 labourers was fully explained in the thriving neighbour- 

 hood that lies so near their impoverished homes.* But 

 a more useful hint may be taken from the labourers of 

 Bielefeld, for from that far-famed linen district they came. 

 Hand-loom weaving is the main occupation of the work- 

 ing people, and hand-spinning prevails throughout all the 

 flax district of Westphalia. No one has had sufficient 

 enterprise to establish a flax-mill in those parts, and the 

 poor workmen are left unaided to contend against the 

 improved machinery that everywhere suiTounds them. 

 The flax district lies too far to the north to be entitled to 



* The wages of these labourers is 8 gros, or \Qd., per day 

 for men ; and 6 gros, or Id., for women. 



