A tour through the Pyrenees . CHAPTER VI. THE INHABITANTS. I. On the eig-hth of Aug-ust, at nine oclock in themorning-, the piercing- note of a flageolet wasto be heard at half a leag-ues distance from Eaux-Bonnes, and the bathers set out for Aas. Theway there is by a narrow road cut in the Monta-gneVerte, and overhung with lavender and bunchesof wild flowers. We entered upon a street sixfeet in width : it is the main street. Scarlet-cappedchildren, wondering at their own magnificence,stood bolt upright in the doorways and looked onus in siU;nt admiration. The public square, at theside of the
A tour through the Pyrenees . CHAPTER VI. THE INHABITANTS. I. On the eig-hth of Aug-ust, at nine oclock in themorning-, the piercing- note of a flageolet wasto be heard at half a leag-ues distance from Eaux-Bonnes, and the bathers set out for Aas. Theway there is by a narrow road cut in the Monta-gneVerte, and overhung with lavender and bunchesof wild flowers. We entered upon a street sixfeet in width : it is the main street. Scarlet-cappedchildren, wondering at their own magnificence,stood bolt upright in the doorways and looked onus in siU;nt admiration. The public square, at theside of the lavatory, is as large as a small room; Chap. VI. THE INHABITANTS. 187 it is here that dances take place. Two hogsheadshad been set up, two planks upon the hogsheads,two chairs upon the planks, and on the chairs two. musicians, the whole surmounted by two splendidblue umbrellas which did service as parasols ; forthe sky was brazen, and there was not a tree onthe square. The whole formed an exceedingly pretty andoriginal picture. Under the roof of the lavatory, a THE VALLEY OF OSSAU. Book II. group of old women leaned against the pillars intalk; a crystal stream gushed forth and ran downthe slated gutter; three small children stood mo-tionless, with wide-open, questioning eyes. Theyoung men were at exercise in the pathway, pla)--ing at base. Above the esplanade, on points ofrock forming shelves, the women looked down onthe dance, in holiday costume; a great scarlethood, a body embroidered in silver, or in silk withviolet flowers ; a yellow, long-fringed shawl; ablack petticoat hanging in folds, close to thefigure, and white woollen gaiters. These strongcolors, the lavished red, the reflexes of the silkunder a dazzling light, were delightful. Aboutthe two hogsheads was wheeling, with a supple,measur
Size: 1602px × 1560px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, bookpublishernewyorkhholtandcom
