Two centuries and a half had elapsed, and the Val
d'Avon had become the centre of a numerous and
wealthy district of the Lingones. At the base of the
Oppidum, extending on both sides of the river, was a
town — a mercantile depdt of some importance ; for as
the river is navigable below the promontory, many boats
coming from the Sequani ascended thus far, laden with
merchandise brought from the south, and returned
freighted with horses, tanned hides, ironwork, smoked
and salted meat, timber, grains, cheese, &c. &c.
The Oppidum was then partly covered with habitations
and gardens belonging to the descendants of Sigild and
Ditovix's warriors. Its ramparts, oftentimes repaired, were
in imperfect condition ; earthworks were to be seen there,
with a few towers of dry stone walling — principally on
the north side. The part of the town on the right bank
was uninclosed, but that which stood on the southern
slopes of the promontory was surrounded by dry stone
, walls which reached the ramparts of the Oppidum. A
tHe de pont, built of the same materials, appeared on the
right bank nearly contiguous to the houses of the part of
the town built on that side (Fig. 9).
It must not be supposed that this town presented the
aspect of our modern cities. It consisted of a series
of inclosures of wood or dry stone walls, surrounding




Fig. 0.— The Town and Cite d'Avon (War op the Gai-ls).
THE SECOND SIEGE. 71

gardens, in the middle of which were built the houses —
wooden buildings thatched with straw or reeds.
