FRANCE. 339 



grapes, figs, prunes, chesnuts, apples in the northern provinces, and 

 capers in the southern. It produces annually, though not enough 

 for consumption, above twelve million pounds of tobacco, besides 

 hemp, flax, manna, saffron, and many drugs. Alsace, Burgundy, 

 Lorrain, and especially the Pyrenean mountains, supply it plentifully 

 with timber and other wood. Silk is so abundantly produced, besides 

 what is imported, as to afford a considerable trade. The province of 

 Gatinois produces great quantities of saffron. The wines of Cham- 

 pagne, Burgundy, Bourdeaux, Gascony, and other provinces of France, 

 are so well known, that they need only to be mentioned. It is suffix 

 cient to observe, that though they differ very sensibly in their taste 

 and properties, yet all of them are excellent, particularly those of 

 Champagne, Burgundy, Bourdeaux, Pontacke, Hermitage, and Fron- 

 tiniac : and there are few constitutions, be they ever so valetudinary p. 

 to which some one or other of them is not adapted. 



Wine, the staple, is made to the value of 15,000,000/. annually, 

 more than an eighth part of which, besides brandy and vinegar, was 

 exported. Olive oil is made in large quantities, particularly in the 

 provinces next the Mediterranean; but the consumption is so greats 

 that much of it is imported from Italy ; the inferior sort supplies the 

 soap manufactories of Marseilles. Languedoc produces an herb call- 

 ed kaii, which, when burnt, makes excellent barilla, or pot-ashes. The 

 French formerly were famous for horticulture, but they are at present 

 far inferior to the English both in the management and disposition 

 of their gardens. Prunes and capers are produced at Bourdeaux, and 

 near Toulon. 



France contains few animals, either wild or tame, that are not to 

 be found in England, excepting wolves and wild boars. Their horses, 

 black cattle, and sheep, are far inferior to the English ; nor is the wool 

 of their sheep so fine. The hair and skin of the chamois, or moun- 

 tain goats, are more valuable than those of England. We know of 

 no difference between the marine productions of France and those of 

 England, but that the former is not so well served, even on the sea- 

 coast, with saltwater fish. 



Natural curiosities. ...The natural curiosities of France consist 

 chiefly in subterraneous caverns and remarkable springs. Near 

 Salins, in the department of Jura, are several remarkable caves, the 

 extent of which, taken together, is about 400 feet in length, and 60 

 in breadth. The descent into them is by 40 stone steps, and 20 

 of wood. At the bottom, by the aid of lighted torches, may be seen, 

 six springs of salt watei*, and two of fresh, gushing out and running 

 with great rapidity. The streams are kept separate by proper trenches, 

 which conduct them into other vaults, supported by large pillars ; 

 wherein are placed reservoirs for the reception of the salt water, 

 which is afterwards conveyed to the top by proper engines, and, be- 

 ing put into pans, great quantities of salt are extracted from it. At 

 Baulme, 12 miles from Bescancon, is a cavern above 300 feet under 

 ground, full of icicles, and at the bottom a little river, which, it is 

 said, flows in the winter, and is frozen in the summer. In the neigh- 

 bourhood of Nismes is a subterraneous cavern, which, the vulgar 

 pretend, reaches to Aries, passing under the Rhone a distance of 20 

 miles. 



Among the natural curiosities of this country may likewise be 

 reckoned the plain of La Crau, in Provence, near the mouth of the 

 Rhone, which is the most singular stony desert perhaps in Europe. 



