Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-09-29


going out the ducks alght on the emerg.
ing sandbanks, just at the spot where the
foam mingles with the muddy soil ; as the
water returns they take their flight in q
line parallel with the surface of tho water,
and are caught by the nets. 1t is said thai
the inhabitants OF La Teste have sold q
hundred thousand ducks at Bordeax in the
space of single winter. but for some
years past the numb.r has considerably
decreased. This is owing 10 the people Oh
the coast more to the north interfering
with the trade the sportsmen have in.
ereased, and the wild ducks are decimated
on their way to Arcachon.
THE TOWN.
Besides the objects of natural scenery
that have been described, and for which We
are greatly indebted to the interesting work
OF Nj. Reclus on the shores OF France,
there liz a smart new town of Arcacbon,
which has sprung up like one of the Ameri-
can watering places since the railway to
Bordeaux has been opened. On all sides
have risen new buildings, Swiss chalets,
Gothic manor-houses, Moorish payilions,
Chinese temples, according to the varied
tastes OF tae proprietors. At the top
of one OF the downs is kind OF
mosque painted in every color; still
higher is a graceful tower; aud villas peep
out from the ravipes and hills. The town
| lies on the sandy shore at the foot OF the
downs, which are crowned with pine for
ests. The trees which have been spared
by the woodinan, the little hills covered
with brushw ood. the thickets OF the arbu-
rus or strawLerry-tree, still recall the wild
nature of tue place, while lovely and sweet
scented gardens surround every house -
The little bathing place has taken proud
device tor Its motto Hsri soli,ltfo hoti.
Uicqs, cras ciUidts The short Journey OF
less than AN hour brings down hundreds
OF people from the dusty, noisy streets OF
Bordeaux, To soend 4 few pleasant hours
ON the shore, and the number OF visitors
for the day Is six ,imes as many as the res
ident. .bathers.
THE GREAT FORESTS
The magnificent forests of La Teste and
Afcachcn torIn most interesting EXCURSIONS.
On the higher ground, aged piaes with
mossy trunks are distributed in irregular
masses. through which glimpses OF the sea
and the distant valleys may be caught
The lower ground is clothed With the
thickest vegetation, and IN he intervals of
the first forest grows a seco I'd of oaks, hol-
lies, brooms and arbutus, forming almost
impenetrable masses. On the western side
of the downs large circular hollows open
out-tne remains OF aIcisilt lakes, whose
waters are absorbed 10y the roots of the
forests. The resiniei himself loves not to
venture into these nsrshy grounds, where
many varieties of trees group themselves
in the picturesque harmony Of nature
Through the wonderful solitude of these
grand woods one may travel for leagues,
and gain the heights of the True de la
Truque or of the Monts dc Lascours, which
are the highest downs in ali Europe From
these hills we descend TO the pool of Caz-
aux. the transparent waters Of which cover
thousands of acres opposite the entrance
of the bay In this spot there Is a view OF
tie breakers in the channel of the little
islands ever changing with the tide, and Of
the sandhills. which compose picture Tor
the gecloSist to study and the artist to ad-
mire.
THE CLIMATE.
The climate of Arcachop is superior to
that of the surrounding districts, and re-
calls, by the pure blue sky, as we'll AS the
equality cf the temperature, the soft winter
air of Cannes and Metone. In the narrow
valleys lying between the parallel ridges OF
the downs, the atmosphere is always calm;
and even when the northwest winds bend
the tall stems of the pines, those walking
on the lower grounds enjoy a premature
spring. The lovely arbutus trees may be
distinguished at distance by their
bright red berries, which from time i'm
memorial have been used for a fermented
liquor, much liked by the resiners. The
cistus and other plants which adom the
shores of the Mediterranean carpet the
sands with their bright flowers. The
myrtle, recently acclimatiZed, thrives In
the sardens, and will soon have crossed
J over tfkbedges, and established itself In
the woods; the olive aud the orange tree
resist the frests, and pass the winter in the
open air, when planted in the forest valleys,
which will no doubt be used some day as
admirable gardens for acclimatization.
sTurED sHEFHEEDs.
The pictures "Stilted Shepherds" of
Rosa Bonheur have made us well acquaint-
ell with the singula,. habi. which the shep-
herds of the Iaud have adopted of passing
the greater part of their lives on stills.
The first time that group of THESE people
are seen, there Is a curious emotion In the
mind as OF strange prodigy. Dressed in
shecpskins wcrn 10y time, knitting stock
ing or spinning thread. they Srayely pass
over reeds and furze: the spectator buried
! as it were in the bushes, they Inf ed nearer
| the sky on the verge of the horizon
The long stick which they handle
| with so much address. serving az "a balan-
eng pole support for the arm, contributes
still more to the straDeeness of their ap-
pearance; they look like gigantic cricsets
preparing to spring. In the Iandes Medoc
not only the shepherds but every one uses
this style of .ocomoticn; the children have
no fear; and the women. who are invsrIa-
bly dressed in black. resemble large ravens
perched on dead branches. The origin OF
stiits is unknown. hut il is probable that
they were not In use before the middle
ages, as ancient authors make no mention
of them. In the pdtois Of the country
they are called chGBqUe, which would seem
TO I their origin IN the period of the rule
of tie English deriving it from our
wcr' shank probably some inventive Brit
l5h mind g: % them this sefviceable mode
OF progression. Perched Oh these borrow
ed legs, the shepherd watches over bis
charge, concealed IN the brushwood. cross
es uninJuied the marshes aud Guicksands,
fears not 20 be torn by tbctns or dry twigs,
and can at any time double the speed at
which he ordinarily walks. Whether it
has any effect ON the character cannot be
decided; but certain IL is that these people
are distinguished by their wild savage ma
ture; they have horror OF strangers; aud
when they perceive a traveller coming to-
wards them they hasten TO flee into con-
GATHERING REsIN.
TIE resinier, OF wnom mention has been
made before, has also his peculiar fashion
of moving. When he reaches the tree
from which the valuable gum tx To ba ex-