of the valJey is dosed ; they rise several
thousand feet above the lower line of eternal
snow, and are seen towering over a
perpendicular wall of black frowning rock,
which contrasts finely with the dazzling
whiteness of the snow. In the centre,
the summit of the Planey overtops the
rest, like the dome of an august temple;
nearer on the right, is the fantastic spire of
the Aguille de Vannoise, a taper pyramid
of rock, at least 8000 feet in h e ig h t: more
advanced in the valley is the Pan de Sucre,
a mountain of gypsum, in the form of a
compressed and truncated cone, higher than
Snowden. The view given, Plate III., will
convey a correct idea of the outline of these
remarkable mountains, and as it was taken
in the middle of August, it marks the
lowest line of snow in summer. Before
arriving at the baths, the road descends to
the bottom of the valley, and we crossed
the Doron on a wooden bridge, lately
erected, the former bridge having been
carried away by the inundation in 1819.
We alighted at the hotel where we had
been recommended : here we dismissed
the voiturier, who had brought us from
Aix, and whom we had ordered to follow
b a t h s o f B R ID A . 257
us from Moutiers, expecting to return the
next day, but we were so much struck with
the singular appearance of the valley, that
we determined to remain here some time,
and examine a country hitherto undescribed.
Five or six houses are already fitted up
for the reception of company, and others
are building, as the baths are rapidly rising
in reputation.
The house at which we were, had been
the summer residence of a large landed
proprietor, a range of new lodging-rooms
being added to it for the company; the
charge for each person was four francs and
a half per day for apartments, dinner, supper,
and wine. A separate charge was made
for coffee. These terms may be considered
moderate, as almost every article of consumption,
even the bread, was brought each
day from Moutiers. The table was as well
supplied with beef, veal, poultry, and ham,
as this part of Savoy could furnish; we
had also a desert, and plenty of strawberries
and ice from the mountains; the wine was
better than at the public table at Aix.
As these waters were as yet but little
known out of the dominions of the king
of Sardinia, the company at Brida con-
«I. 7 ll
fr- I