Tools for Tnvffie-Hunting. 401 



which former mode, as far as I am acquainted with both, deserves 

 the preference. I shall treat of that with swine only superficially. 



§ 11. How long Triiffle-Htmtmg has been practised. — The 

 methodical search of truffles with dogs or swine seems to be a 

 device of later times; for I have discovered no traces of it in 

 ancient writings. Accordingly, the ancients appear to have sought 

 for truffles in the destructive mode above mentioned ; viz. by 

 digging up whole districts. 



In Italy, France, and Spain, where rare and exquisite delica- 

 cies were more and earlier esteemed, this mode of truffle- 

 searching was earlier known than in Germany. Nevertheless, 

 as may be conjectured from an observation of Geoifroy, it was 

 not practised in the first-mentioned countries before the middle 

 of the seventeenth century; and in the beginning of the last it 

 was transferred to Germany. Stisser, in his History of German 

 Forests and Huntings 1st ed. 1738, chap. vii. sect. QS.^ informs 

 us that, in consideration of his yearly delivering a quantity of 

 truffles, a privilege for the searching for truffles in the princi- 

 pality of Halberstadt was first given to Bernard Vanino, an 

 Italian; and that the proper hunters had nothing in common 

 with the truffle-hunters. 



In the court of the Grand-Duchy of Baden, the first truffle- 

 hunter existed about seventy years ago, and was a Frenchman. 

 It is true, this man carried on the search of truffles in a rather 

 expensive way ; but he may be said to have established the art, 

 since several persons whom he had employed in it learnt it from 

 him. The truffle-hunters at the other German courts were also 

 all Italians, Piedmontese, Savoyards, or Frenchmen, who made 

 truffle-searching with dogs the order of the day. 



§ 12. The requisite Tools for Triiffie-Hinting. — The truffle- 

 hunter does not require for his chase an equipment so care- 

 fully made, and such a numerous collection of instruments, 

 as the huntsman. His tools are simple, and few in num- 

 ber. A hunting-bag is indispensably necessary for him, to 

 keep such truffles in as he may find, and for provision for 

 himself and his dogs; to which, as is said below, a morsel, by 

 way of encouragement, must frequently be given. A sharp, 

 strong, not costly cutlass, is essentially useful, to cut the shrubs 

 and small roots which may obstruct his digging out the truffles. 

 The most necessary tohim is a simple instrument, his principal 

 tool, with which the truffles are dug out. This consists of a 

 heart-shaped shovel, of from 3 to 4 inches in length, and 

 2)\ inches in breadth ; and of a hoe horizontally bent, of the 

 same size, and also heart-shaped. These two pieces must, by 

 means of two hoops, be both fastened upon one wooden shaft, of 

 about 2 ft. long ; the hoe to the upper, and the shovel to the 

 under, part of it. In using this instrument, the earth must be 



Vol. XIII. — No. 90. d d 



