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ment, in the winter months. This migration
takes place at the end of October. Mons.
Grillet, a Savoyard clergyman, has given
the following interesting description of the
migration from the vicinity of Faverge and
Marlens, which he witnessed when residing
in that neighbourhood.
“ An old trader from St. Ferrol, who,
by the frequent journies he had made, had
acquired an exact knowledge ofthe country
he had traversed, and of the money that
might be gained by migrating during the
winter months, collected from the neighbouring
hamlets and villages all the young
people who wished to follow him. The fathers
eagerly presented their children to
him, praising their intelligence, health,
and acquirements. The old man, like a
skilful recruiter, examined attentively the
shape and limbs of the boys, and interrogated
them on their knowledge of business,
or their capacity for service or labour, and
finally he fixed the sums that he would engage
to give to the respective parents, for
the services of their children during the
time of their absence. Boys, from eighteen
to twenty years of age, were to have thirty-six
francs, those from fourteen to sixteen twenty
francs, and the fathers of those who were
only twelve years old, were to receive
twelve francs. When the terms were agreed
on, all the boys were put under the authority
of this travelling merchant, and were
commanded by their parents to obey and
respect him, and to give him an exact account
of all the money they gained. The
parents also exhorted their children to practise
the duties of religion, and to return to
their native villages, free from reproach, in
the spring.
“ The person who takes the charge of the
boys lets them out by the week or day, and
receives their wages. When they are in
large towns, like Paris, the wages go to a
common fund, and a strict system of police
and subordination is maintained. The necessary
expences of travelling are paid out
of this common fund, and after the parents
have received the stipulated sums, the residue
is the property of the leader or contractor.”
Mons. Grillet also gives the following
account of their return home.
“ The return of the boys was announced
to the villages by the repeated firing of
pistols : the caravan, out of their moderate
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