254 liAMBLES OP A NATURALIST. 



tained in the department of the Lower Charente. 

 Having examined the local fauna, I at once under- 

 stood the nature of the district that I was about to 

 investigate, and was anxious to begin my labours 

 without delay. Unfortunately, however, it was 

 neap tide when I arrived, and as the sea scarcely 

 uncovered more than the highest zones of the beach, 

 which was very poor in animal life, I found no op- 

 portunity for some time of pursuing my zoological 

 investigations. To occupy this forced leisure, I 

 turned my attention to the past records of La 

 Rochelle, and began at once to study the history of 

 this city, which would very probably have played as 

 great a part in history as any of the Italian republics 

 if it had not been nearly crushed between France 

 and England. 



Like Venice, La Rochelle has risen from the midst 

 of the sea, and has been peopled by the proscribed of 

 other nations. The ocean, which once advanced far 

 beyond its present limits, surrounded on three sides 

 a low rock,* forming a small elongated cape, which 

 appeared to emerge from the midst of vast morasses. 

 A few cottages grouped together round a tower ad- 

 joining a chapel, and inhabited by poor fishermen, 

 were built on this islet, and such was La Rochelle 

 until the beginning of the twelfth century. At this 

 period, the serfs of Chatelaillon and Montmeillan, 

 fleeing from their native territory, which had been 



* This rocky ledge, on which were constructed first the tower, 

 and subsequently the castle, gave to the town the Latin name of 

 which its present name is a mere translation, namely, Rupella, or 

 little rock. 



