410 BELGIUM. 



In a side valley of tlie Meuse, towards the north-west, is situate a city famous 

 in the annals of Belgium. Tungres, or Tonyeren (7,600 inhabitants) is, in fact, the 

 ancient castellum of the Aduatuci, who were left behind by the Cimbri when they 

 invaded Gaul, but were exterminated or sold into slavery fifty years later by 

 Julius Cœsar.* There still remain portions of the ancient walls of this city, 

 constructed of flints and cement, and. vulgarly known as the Zeedijk. 



The Basin of the Schei-de. — Tongres, one would have imagined, would 

 have been chosen capital of the Belgian province of Limburg, but the adminis- 

 trative authorities have been established at Hmselt (11,361 inhabitants), on the 

 river Deraer, which is tributary to the Schelde. Its rivals, St. Trond, or Sint- 

 Tniyden (11,253 inhabitants), and Tirlemoiit, or Thicnen (13,296 inhabitants), are 

 situate on rivulets belonging to the same basin. St. Trond boasts a fine belfry, 

 whilst the decayed town of Lean (1,780 inhabitants), to the west of it, has a town- 

 hall and church which are marvels of elegance and originality. Tirlemont 

 resembles several of the towns of Flanders, for, like them, it has lost its industry, 

 and extensive tracts within its walls have been converted into gardens and fields. 

 The village of Landen, between Tirlemont and St. Trond, recalls Pepin of Landen, 

 the founder of Carlovingian power. It has recently acquired some importance, for 

 five railways converge upon it. Near it is Ncerivindcn, where two battles were 

 fought in 1693 and 1793. 



Dicst (7,303 inhabitants), to the west of and on the same river as Hasselt, is a 

 fortress guarding the frontier towards Holland. It has numerous distilleries, and 

 is noted for its gUden hier, or beer of the guilds. Sichem (2,300 inhabitants), 

 lower down, is likewise known for its beer. 



The river Demer separates the hills of Hageland from the sandy tract of the 

 Campine. Below Aerschot (5,050 inhabitants) it joins the Dyle, which rises to the 

 south of Wavre (6,550 inhabitants), and flows through the famous city of Louvain, 

 or Leiivcn (33,917 inhabitants), the old capital of Brabant, and formerly one of the 

 wealthiest and most populous cities of the whole country. In 1360 it had 

 100,000 inhabitants, and between 3,000 and 4,000 looms were employed in 

 the manufacture of cloth. It was at Ijouvain that a bell tolled half an hour 

 before the closing of the workshops, in order that passers by might avoid the 

 crowd. In addition to cloth, Louvain manufactured leather, weapons and armour, 

 and mead. Its university, founded in 1426, was one of the most famous seats of 

 learning in Europe. But towards the close of the sixteenth century intellectual 

 life retired from Louvain, as from other towns of Belgium, and the general causes 

 of decay v/ere aggravated by a visitation of the plague, which carried off 50,000 

 inhabitants and all the professors of medicine, one alone excepted. The university, 

 however, continued to exist until suppressed during the French Revolution. In 

 1836 it was revived as a Roman Catholic university, which has become one of 

 the strongholds of the Church : it is richly endowed from private sources, and 

 attended by 1,300 students. 



A town of the past, Louvain nevertheless continues to carry on the mnnufacture 

 * E. Desjardins, " Géographie de la Gaule romaine." 



