upplying the consumption of the
town, they make no use of it themselves: in those cases where any is
left upon their hands, it is always given to the pig.

In summer, when the labours of the day are at an end, they assemble on
the threshing-floor adjacent to the house, and dance to the music of a
tambourine, which is played successively by the different members of
the family; even children of six or seven years old often take their
turn, and beat the rural instrument with great spirit and precision.
Their national dance, called the _saltarello_, does not exhibit much
variety of figure: the two performers stand facing each other, the
woman holding her dress spread out, her partner with his hands in
an easy attitude on his hips: thus prepared, they set off, advancing
and retreating, doubling and pursuing, circling round and round each
other, in a quick hopping sort of step, always keeping admirable time,
and accompanying the music by a sort of hissing sound, which appears
to have an exhilarating influence. As soon as one couple pause to
take breath, another is ready to step forward; while the interest of
the spectators and the animation of the dancers never seem to flag:
sometimes the old people, the elders of the group, become so excited,
that they start up, push aside the younger ones, and foot it away with
a nimbleness and dexterity which call down general applause.

Their households are generally large, for, as the sons grow up, they
invariably marry, always in succession, according to their birthright,
and bring their wives home to the paternal roof, unless one has a
religious vocation and becomes a priest, or a lay-brother in some
order of friars. As soon, however, as they become too numerous, the
_padrone_, the owner of the land, steps in to say he will not have so
many useless mouths upon his property; so then one at least of the
junior branches is obliged to look out for another possessione to
cultivate.

The terms on which they hold these farms, and the system pursued
between landlord and tenant, are very