1852 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
275 
Notes of a Tour in France.—No. 3. 
The annual sale of sheep from the government flock 
at Rambouillet, being advertised to take place on the 
27th of April, I made nay arrangements to accompany 
my host, Mons. G. and his son, to a friend’s house the 
day preceding, and thence to drive over to the sale the 
next morning. As is invariably the case, the auction 
was on Sunday; that day being chosen in France for all 
such public occasions. Church going on any particular 
day is no part of a Frenchman’s creed; but is usually 
left to the female portion of the household, who go to 
mass, whilst their liege lords go to market or fair. This 
no doubt arises in part from the churches being open 
all day and every day. The passers by drop in and 
patter an “ ave” or “ credo,” cross themselves, and go 
on their way rejoicing, entering the church as carelessly 
as they would a cabaret; not but what there are many 
sincere worshippers at these ever open shrines. Many 
a tired wayfarer kneels there, and lays aside for a mo¬ 
ment the cares and burthens of life, to rise up strength¬ 
ened and refreshed for his daily toil. But ever since the 
revolution of 1799, the French, as a people, have been 
very lax in their religious principles. 
But to return, the sale is always looked forward to 
with great interest by all Merino breeders in France, 
who make it a point to attend. Besides seeing the re¬ 
sults of the year’s breeding in the government flock, and 
comparing it with their own progress, they there meet 
all interested in their particular pursuit, compare notes, 
make exchanges, sales, &c., &c. It is also impor¬ 
tant in a pecuniary point of view', for as prices rule at 
Rambouillet, so they rise or fall throughout the depart¬ 
ment, (exeept perhaps in the case of one or two leading 
breeders.) Foreign flock-masters or their agents are 
generally represented there, and many of the best ani¬ 
mals are often bought at a high figure to cross with the 
vast flocks of central Europe and southern Russia. On 
the present occasion some Englishmen from the far away 
island continent of Australia, avere spirited bidders, and 
bought no less than 28 rams to send to Sidney, risking 
the dangers and losses of a six months voyage. But 
they told me “ that they were so delighted with the 
sheep, that they could not help buying, forgetting ex¬ 
pense, risk, distance, everything.” I observed, how¬ 
ever, they bought none of the highest priced sheep, 
thinking, no doubt, that even an ordinary ram of this 
heavy fleeced variety, would greatly ameliorate and in¬ 
crease the yield of the New South Wales flocks, which 
now r produce a fine but light fleece; whilst the loss in 
case of accident would be much less. 
It was raining as we drove through the narrow streets 
of the old town of Rambouillet. The quaint irregular 
outlines of the buildings, so unlike the prim stiffness of 
our country towns, looked gloomy enough against the 
dull horizon, whose leaden hue gave little hopes of a 
fine day for the sale. A dragroon with dispatches dash- 
ing hastily along, and a few peasants clattering by in 
their clumsy w'ooden shoes, were the only living things 
to be seen. Here, as in many of the provincial towns in 
France, ihe march of improvement has been but slow. 
The streets have no sidewalks, but the gutter runs 
through the middle of them. They are lighted at night 
by lanterns, suspended from cords that stretch from side 
to side, passing over a pulley in the walls. It w’as these 
conven ient cords that gave rise to the terrible cry of the 
mob, so often heard during the first revolution, 11 a la 
lanterne!” which meant, hang the offender to the near¬ 
est lantern rope. A sharp turn to the left, under the 
gateway of the inn, soon changed the scene. The yard 
was filled with vehicles of all sorts and sizes; from the 
heavy modern cabriolet of the neighboring proprietor, to 
the almost antideluvian conveyance of some village mayor 
a dignitary corresponding to our justice of the peace. 
Horses w'ere neighing, biting, kicking, and plunging, 
blue bloused hostlers w’ere shouting and swearing and 
bringing very little to pass; and white aproned waiters 
were rushing across the yard from the kitchen to the 
dining room, threading their w r ay through the crowd 
with marvelous dexterity. Amid this babel of sounds, 
we alighted and made our way into the “ salle a manger;” 
my conductors, on their entrance, w'ere assailed by a 
volley of welcomes, questions and remarks from the 
large party, to most of whom they were known, who 
were busy doing justice to the ample mid-day meal, 
called by them breakfast ; and we were at once invited 
to join them. This breakfast is a most substantial re¬ 
past, answering very well to our dinner. It begins clas¬ 
sically with eggs, and ends with fruit, “ ab ovo usque ad 
mala.” There are several courses of meat, and it is 
always accompanied by wdne. The usual hour in the 
country is between eleven and twelve, before which 
time nothing is taken but a bowl of coffee or chocolate, 
and a slice of toast on first rising; so that, one is quite 
ready for the somewhat elaborate and late breakfast. 
Dinner at five or six o’clock only differs in beginning 
w ith soup. 
The appointed hour having arrived, we started for the 
sale; and after some bargaining with a huge red-faced 
woman, who seemed possessor of all the horses and car¬ 
riages in town, we were packed into a sort of omnibus 
drawn by one horse, to the number of a dozen, and slow¬ 
ly dragged up to the national establishment. Any but 
a Norman horse, would have given up in despair at the 
first pinch of the steep ascent; but the sturdy little bay, 
at an encouraging word from bis driver, settled into the 
collar and tugged manfully on, and at length mastered 
the muddy, slippery hill, and landed us safely at the 
gate. This journey he repeated many times during the 
day, w'ithout apparent distress. 
The auction is held under a large shed, open on all 
sides, supported by massive stone columns. Beneath 
this the sheep to be sold are placed in lots, for the con¬ 
venience of being examined by the purchasers. In the 
middle a space is railed off, on the outside of which the 
bidders stand; into this area, the animal designated by 
bis number, (which is branded on the horn,) is brought, 
and led around by one of the shepherds. No particular 
order is observed in putting them up. A clerk and ac¬ 
countant at a side table, record the number, price, and 
purchaser. All sales are for cash. 
Mons. Pichat, the then director of the flocks, w r as 
present, though having nothing personally to do with 
the sale. His duties end with the selection of the sheep 
to be disposed of. This being a government affair, everj 
