108 Description of the Landes of Acquitania. 
The Landais himself, known under the name of Marensin of 
Couzeot or Cocozates, is of little stature, attenuated, and of a yel- 
low, or colourless tint. His long dark hair generally falls in natu- 
ral ringlets on his shoulders. His fibres are rigid ; but there is a 
want of activity and flexibility in the muscles, and a slight tendency 
to erithism. Irritability of disposition, great liability to intermit- 
tent fever, and habitual inebriety, are also characteristic of. the 
Landais.. His mental developement is in harmony with his physical 
structure: he is obstinate to excess, a slave to old methods, an ene- 
my to all improvements, taciturn but not wicked, ardent in his love, 
and jealous even to cruelty. He braves with much carelessness the 
intemperance of the weather, lying, during the fine seasons of the 
year, on straw when at home, and in his coat when travelling.. The 
use of Echasses or Xcanques, or long poles with the thigh bone of 
an ox fastened at a moderate height from the ground, as a support 
for the foot, is general, more especially among the shepherds, who, 
by thus extending their horizontal view over.the sameness of the 
Landes, are enabled to distinguish the approach. of wolves at a 
greater distance. These stilts also serve to increase the rapidity of. 
progressive movements over the heather, and in winter to: cross: 
mares and streams of water. | garia! 
The food of the Landais is as poor as‘his country is unproduc- 
tive. Few fields of wheat are met with in the whole tract ; but 
the quantity of Indian corn, Zea mais, and millet, Panicum milia- 
ceum and P. Italicum, exceeds the consumption of the country, 
forming thus a productive branch of external commerce ; six other 
species of Panicum are indigenous to these parts, but none of them 
are cultivated. . : . 
Observation has proved that sablonous earths agree better with 
the yellow seeded variety of the Zea mais, and argillaceous soils 
with that whose seed is white ; and it was a fact well known to Par- 
mentier, that barren soil best suited this plant. In a French work 
lately published, << Voyage au Kentoucky,’ it is decidedly stated 
that it delights most in new lands. In rich lands the corn grows into 
mere grass ; and before it can be raised with success, they require 
to be made poorer. It flourishes nowhere so well'as in the plains 
at the foot of the Appenine Alps, on-the fern tracts (filicite) of the 
Pyrenees, and on the heaths of the Landes. ~The virgin soil of the. 
Barrens of North America, have been from the same cause found 
favourable to its growth. The novelist Cooper, in his statistical 
work termed “ Notes of a Travelling Bachelor,’ speaks of it as 
the favourite plant of America, as an infallible test of the quality 
of soil and nature of climate ; and where it will not grow, the hus- 
bandman will not dwell. 
Cobbett has lately been enthusiastic for its introduction into our 
own country. From very different considerations than those which 
appear to have actuated that turbulent democrat, we think its dis- 
semination in some places, more especially in certain parts of North 
Britain and Ireland, might be very successful ; in some places it 
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