MAQUIS ON THE MONT VINAIGRE. 



187 



At Malpa\' we leave the broad highway and follow 

 the foot-path in an easterh' direction. This winds up 

 the south slope of Mont \^inaigre. How comes the 

 mountain by this singular name ? From the sour wine 

 which used to grow on its flanks. No traces of former 

 vine-culture remain however, but instead we find on 

 the slopes the most splendid Maquis that it is possible 

 to imagine. Tree Heaths (Fig. p. 175), Broom (Fig. p. 395), 

 Pistachias (Fig. p. 34')), Euphorbias l (Fig. p. 181), As- 

 phodels (Fig. p. 49); all these bloom 

 and fill the air with spicy irag- 



Provencal sprinp- is v v* 



must hasten before 



comes. It 

 ture wished '*>^ to 

 spring festi- 

 val here ; and 

 unconsciously 

 a feeling of spring pene- 

 trates the soul of the 

 wanderer. lie forgets all past 

 things: he feels as though he 

 could begin life anew. v 



And wh)' should J^'^'^^'^'^^^S^ 

 he not? Is not 

 the earth 

 very 



old, and does she 



not awaken to new life every 

 spring? How sweeth' the 



at the same time 



ranee. For the 



short, and plants 



" the drought 



as though Na- 



celebrate a 



Guloc tiles 

 tomeiltosa. 



