After a considerable distance, the road quits the _Lande_, and mounts a hill, along and from the summit of which is a very agreeable view, which improves at every step.

From this point the Lande below appears cultivated, and vines and fields are seen in all directions.

You descend the hill, and Morlaas is in sight: that town was once regal, and of old renown, but is now in the very perfection of ruin and desolation.
It was the great market, and our driver was so delighted at the circumstance, that it was with the utmost difficulty we could prevent him from taking us to a plain outside the town, where the horse-fair was going on, as he assured us that there we should see all the _monde_.

As we were quite aware of the style of gentry assembled, by the quantity of blue frocks and berrets which we saw from a distance, and by the neighing of steeds which reached our ears, we declined joining the commercial party, and contented ourselves with being jostled and crowded by the assemblage in the streets of Morlaas, whose avenues were blocked up with market-folks, not only from every village and commune round, but from Pau, and Orthez, and Peyrehourade, and Lescar.
We stopped at the once magnificent church of Sainte Foix, before a little low porch, where we had to endure much persecution from beggars, _en attendant_ the arrival of the cure who was to show us the interior.
We were amused at one of these people, who continued his whining cry of "Charita madama, per l'amor de Deieux!"-- half French, half _patois_; till our driver asking him to point out the cure's abode, he answered briskly, in a lively tone; and, having given the required information, resumed the accustomed drawl.
The cure seemed very cross, and little propitiated by our apologies for having disturbed him: he looked sleepy and flushed, and had evidently been enjoying a nap, after a hearty meal and a bottle of Jurancon.

He hurried us through the ruined church, from which almost every vestige of its early character has disappeared.