l6 TRAVELS IN UPPER 



Buffon at Montbard, after receiving from him kind 

 wishes and embraces, which I valued as the bene- 

 diction of genius. The post conveyed me with its 

 usual rapidity to Marseilles, where I stopped only 

 a few moments. 



i 



A certain person had formed the project of dig- 

 ging through a hill in the neighbourhood of Ciotat, 

 down to the sea, the waters of which, in various 

 places of the coast, force themselves through im- 

 mense cavities a considerable way up the land. He 

 pretended that these subterranean cavities contain- 

 ed an immense quantity of coral, the easy attain- 

 ment of which would considerably increase that 

 branch of commerce, and enrich the projector. 

 Memorials on the subject had been addressed to 

 Versailles, in the view of obtaining permission and 

 assistance. The minister consulted Buffon, who 

 transmitted the memorials to me, that I might 

 make the necessary inquiries on the spot. On my 

 arrival at Ciotat I found the enterprise already re- 

 linquished ; the work had been given up almost 

 as soon as it began, and it was thought of no 

 more. 



I was informed at Ciotat of a singular ceremony 

 practised there every year, the first days of Nivose. 

 A numerous assemblage of men, armed with sabres 

 and pistols, sally forth in pursuit of a very small 



bird 



