peasants ; the Jews alone are prohibited from becom- 

 ing proprietors of the soil, though they have very 

 numerous mortgages upon it. When they foreclose, 

 the lands must consequently be sold ; and as these 

 Jews, the monied capitalists, cannot become pur- 

 chasers, the prices they yield are very trifling. 



The most numerous class of Cultivators are Pea- 

 sants; they have a limited property in the lands 

 which they occupy, and the cottages in which they 

 live, under the condition of working a stipulated 

 number of days in each week, on their lord's demesne, 

 and paying specified quantities of produce, such as 

 poultry, eggs, yarn, and other things, in conformity 

 with ancient usage. 



The extent of these holdings vary, according to the 

 quality of the land, and the quantity of duty work, 

 or of payments in kind, which are to be fulfilled. 



On a large property which I examined, the pea- 

 sants had about forty-eight acres of land each, for 

 which they were bound to work for two days in 

 every week with two oxen. If their labour was 

 farther required, they were paid three-pence per day 

 for two other days, and if beyond that number, six- 

 pence per day. On another property, I found the 

 peasants had about thirty-six acres, for which they 

 worked two days in each week, with two oxen ; 

 when called upon for extra labour, they are paid six- 

 pence a day for themselves and oxen for the next two 

 days, or if they work without their oxen, threepence. 

 If their labour is demanded the remaining two 

 days in the week, the sum to be paid is made the 

 subject of a special agreement; on one estate, the 

 peasants had but twenty-four acres, and did one 

 day's work themselves, with one horse ; the rest of 

 their labour was paid for in money, by agreement 

 made at the time it was required. Another pro- 

 prietor, on land somewhat exhausted, granted to 

 each of his peasants more than fifty acres of land, 



