CHOUANS, the name given to the bands of peasants, mainly smugglers and dealers in contraband salt, who rose in revolt in the west of France, in 1793, and joined the royalists of la Vendee (see FRANCE: History) . The Breton word cliouan means "screech-owl," and is supposed to have been originally applied as a nickname to Jean Cottereau (1767-94), the leader of the revolt, and afterwards extended to his followers. In any case, it was appropriate ; for they were night-birds and used the hoot of an owl as a signal. The motive for revolt was less devotion to the monarchy than resentment at interference of the new Republican Government with their old habits; the ruin of their contraband trade by the abolition of the Gabelle (q.v.) ; the attacks by the Convention on the priesthood, and, above all, the enforcement of conscription. Their methods of warfare were barbarous and were met by barbarous reprisals. A vivid picture of these wild people and the wild country in which they operated is given by Balzac in his novel Les Chouans.