CLARET AND OLIVES, FROM THE GARONNE TO THE RHONE; OR, NOTES, SOCIAL, PICTURESQUE, AND LEGENDARY, BY THE WAY. BY ANGUS B. REACH, AUTHOR OF "THE STORY OF A BUCCANEER," ETC. [Illustration] LONDON: DAVID BOGUE, FLEET STREET. MDCCCLII. LONDON: HENRY VIZETELLY, PRINTER AND ENGRAVER, GOUGH SQUARE, FLEET STREET. TO CHARLES MACKAY, ESQ., LL. D., MY EARLIEST AND KINDEST LITERARY FRIEND, These Pages ARE AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE The Diligence--French Country Places--The English in Guienne--Bordeaux--Old Bordeaux--A Bordeaux Landlord--A Suburban Vintaging--The Vintage Dinner 1-20 CHAPTER II. Claret _v._ Port--The Claret Soil--The Claret Vine--Popular Appetite for Grapes--Variable qualities of the Claret Soil--French Veterans--The "Authorities" in France 21-38 CHAPTER III. The Claret Vintage--The Treading of the Grape--The Last Drops of the Grape--Wanderings amongst the Vineyards--Wandering Vintagers--The Vintage Dinner--The Vintagers' Bedroom--The Claret Chateaux--The Chateau Margaux 39-57 CHAPTER IV. The Landes--The Bordeaux and Teste Railway--M. Tetard and his Imitator--Start for the Landes--The Language of the Landes--A Railway Station in the Landes--The Scenery of the Landes--The Stilt-walkers of the Landes--A Glimpse of Green 58-76 CHAPTER V. The Clear Water of Arcachon--Legend of the Baron of Chatel-morant--The Resin Harvest--The Witches of the Landes--The Surf of the Bay of Biscay--French Priests--Do the Landes Cows give Milk?--The _Amour Patriæ_ of the Landes 77-101 CHAPTER VI. Dawn on the Garonne--The Landscape of the Garonne--The Freaks of the Old Wars in Guienne--Agen--Jasmin, the Last of the Troubadours--Southern Cookery and Garlic--The Black Prince in a New Light--Cross-country Travelling in France 102-126 CHAPTER VII.