then scraped off, drained, and
the women collect it and stack it on the "bossis" into conical heaps,
which they cover with a coating of clay, to render them impervious to
weather. In the salting season, the salt marshes with their innumerable
hillocks of white salt have the appearance of a vast tent-covered camp.
Each "oeillet" produces about 150 lbs. of salt. The same salt-pans are
worked from century to century by the same "paludiers" or their
descendants. The proprietors may change, but the workmen remain,
considering the salt-pans their prescriptive inheritance. For payment,
they receive one-fourth of the salt. The dress of the paludier is a
smock-frock of irreproachable whiteness, with pockets, white shoes,
gaiters, and linen breeches, an enormous black flap hat turned up on the
side in a point or horn. The young man wears the point over the ear, the
married turns it behind, and the widower in front. We reached the Bourg de
Batz in time for vespers, and had an opportunity of seeing the people in
their Sunday dress. The men wear three or four cloth waistcoats, all of
different lengths, so as to let the various colours, red, white, and blue,
with which they are bound, appear one above the other in tiers, a muslin
turnover collar, full plaited breeches of fine cloth tied at the knee by
garters of floating ribbon, white woollen stockings with worked clocks and
light yellow shoes, their flap hats ornamented with a roll of chenille of
varied colours. The headdress of the women is singular and most intricate.
The hair, in two rolls, twisted round with white tape, forms a kind of
coronet across their heads; over this, a piece of net is drawn tight,
forming a sort of cap, describing a peak behind, and crossing in front
like a handkerchief.

[Illustration: 45. Paludier of the Bourg de Batz, in his working dress.]

The dress consists of several petticoats of cloth plaited, red body,
turned-up sleeves, and large coloured bibs or plastrons which they call
"pieces," of the same stuff as their dresses. The girls' aprons are plain,
without pockets, but the women's are of coloured silk, some of a rich
brocade. A shawl with fringed border completes the costume. Some of the
women had their heads and shoulders wrapped up in a triangular, black,
shaggy sheepskin mantle; these were widows.

At the inn where we alighted, they keep the splendid costumes worn by the
people at weddings and other great occasions; and, by paying them for
th