362 ACCOUNT OF THE CITY OF HIERES, 



rivulet ; and, after ferving the induftrious inhabitants 

 in watering their gardens, run acrofs the plain into 

 the fea. 



On the north-weft lide of the mountains that fur- 

 round this little country, exactly where the narrow 

 vale running towards Toulon comes to an end, ftands 

 the city of Hieres ; built on one of the higheft mountains, 

 very fteep, and quite pointed at top. Directly over the 

 city the mountain rifes into a fharp rock, quite naked, 

 which at fome diftance might be naturally taken for 

 the walls and towers of a citadel built above the city. 

 When feen from the plain, the city makes a good and 

 even magnificent appearance, on account of its fteep 

 elevation, and the numerous churches and other edi- 

 fices, which from this eminence agreeably ftrike the eye 

 below. But, nearly furveyed, and feen within, the 

 place is very difagreeable. It contains indeed lofty and 

 fubftantial houfes; but the ftreets are narrow, and 

 therefore gloomy ; and in fome places extremely fteep. 

 The upper part of the city ftands on a high rocky 

 ground, very difficult of afcent. Here is a nunnery of 

 noble ladies, and a collegiate church of twelve cho- 

 rifters. The inhabitants confift of feveral noble fa-, 

 milies and opulent burghers ; but by far the greateft 

 part is compofed of hufbandmen, mechanics, and fhop- 

 keepers. 



Not only extraordinaries, and what are deemed ar- 

 ticles of luxury, are not to be bought here, but even 

 the common neceffaries of life muft be fetched from 

 Toulon ; which lies at the diftance of three leagues 

 from Hieres. However, there are good regulations in 



this 



