268 M O U N T A IN C U L T U R E .
M O U N T A IN V IL L A G E S . 269
the largest gypsum mountains in the world,)
there are other masses of gypsum both on
the summits of the mountains, and at the
very bottom of the valley, of which I shall
afterwards speak. It is perhaps owing to
the quantity of gypsum, which reflects a
large portion of the solar rays, that vines
are cultivated to so great a height in this
valley; but in the summer of 1821, when
we were there, they had entirely failed. It
will be well remembered, that the spring of
that year had been remarkably cold all
over Europe. Wheat and potatoes are
grown at great elevations here, and appeared
healthy and productive. I observed
that the walnut trees in the upper part of
the valley had suffered from the cold, and
the nuts were blighted. As this valley descends
from the central chain of the Alps,
and the river which runs along it, forms a
continued cataract of fifteen miles in
length, it may be regarded as one of the
most elevated large valleys in Savoy; hence
I was surprised to find it so well cultivated
and productive.
Wishing to examine the upper part of
this valley, we engaged a char from Moutiers,
and set off early in the morning, taking
provisions with us. There is a road on
each side of the river from Brida, but it is
only that on the western side that is practicable
in a char ; the other is only a path for
mules. Both roads are carried at a great
height above the river.
Leaving Brida, the road passes above
the baths, and continues ascending gradually
for three miles. The first rock near
the road is a Cipoline marble, or white limestone,
spotted with greenish talc. It lies
above the rock of talc slate, from which the
thermal waters issue, and is evidently connected
with it. A little further we passed
over an immense eboulement, which had covered
some hundred acres of ground; the
fragments of rock appeared all of one kind,
which was grey-wacke slate, intermixed
with particles of quartz. The snowy mountains
at the end of the valley were in full
view all the way, and we could perceive that
the snow was diminished in various parts,
as there were more projecting points and
ridges visible than on our first arrival at
Brida, the weather for some days having
been very hot.
There are several mountain villages at a
great elevation on each side of the valley.
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