Xll
I. EXPENSES, SEASON, etc.
banks, are the most convenient form for the transport of large sums ;
and their value, if lost ot stolen, is recoverable.
The traveller should always be provided with small change
(petite monnaie), as otherwise he may be put to inconvenience in
giving gratuities, purchasing catalogues, etc.
Expenses. The expense of a tour in Northern France dépends of
course on the tastes and habits of the traveller ; but it may be stated
generally that travelling in France is not more expensive than in
most other countries of Europe. The pedestrian of moderato require-
ments, who is tolerably proficient in the language and avoids the
beaten track as much as possible, may limit his expenditure to
10-12 fr. per diem, while those who prefer driving to walking, choose
the dearest hôtels, and employ the services of guides and commis¬
sionnaires must be prepared to spend at least 20-30 fr. daily. Two
or three gentlemen travelling together will be able to journey more
economically than a solitary tourist, but the présence of ladies
generally adds considerably to the expenses of the party.
Season. Most of the districts described in this Handbook may
be visited at any part of the year, but winter is, of course, the least
pleasant season, while spring and autumn are on the whole préfér¬
able to summer, especially when a large proportion of the tra-
veller's time is spent in the cities and larger towns. The bathing-
season at the watering-places on the N. coast generally lasts from
June to September. Excursions in the elevated région of the
Vosges are not possible, or at least pleasant, except in summer.
Passpoets are now dispensed with in France, but they are often
useful in proving the traveller's identity, procuring admission to
muséums on days when they are not open to the public, obtaining
delivery of registered letters, etc. Pedestrians in a remote district
will often find that a passport spares them much inconvenience
and delay.
Foreign Office passports may be obtained through C. Smith and Sons,
63 Ch-iring Cross; Buss, 440 West Strand; E. Stanford, 26 Cockspur St.,
Charing Cross ; or W. J. Adams, 59 Fleet St. (charge 2s. ; agent's fee 1*. éd.).
Sketching, photographing, or making notes near fortified places
sometimes exposes innocent travellers to disagreeable suspicions or
worse, and should therefore be avoided.
Custom House. In order to prevent the risk of unpleasant dé¬
tention at the 'douane' or custom-house, travellers are strongly re-
commended to avoid carrying with them any articles that are not
absolutelynecessary. Cigars, tobacco, and matches are chiefly sought
for by the custom-house officers. The duty on cigars amounts to
about 13s., on tobacco to 6-10s. per lb. Articles liable to duty should
always be 'declared'. Books and newspapers occasionally give rise to
suspicion and may in certain cases be confiscated. The examination
of luggage generally takes place at the frontier-stations, and travellers
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