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270 M O U N T A IN V IL L A G E S .
As nearly as I could estimate by the eye,
some of these villages were from 2000 to
nearly 3000 feet above the river, and therefore
from 4 to 5000 feet above the level of
the sea ; few villages in the Alps are placed
higher. The village of Murren, above
Lauterbrun, in the canton of Berne, is stated
to be 5466 feet above the sea, and 2700
above the vale of Lauterbrun ; but it did
not appear to me to be so high above the
valley, as some of these villages near
Brida.
To an Englishman, at the first view, it
may appear strange, that the natives of
Savoy or Switzerland, should so frequently
build large villages in such lofty situations,
where they must remain shut out from the
world for many months during the winter,
and be exposed beside to numerous hardships,
which the inhabitants of valleys escape.*
A little reflection will sufficiently
explain this choice of situation. In a
country where land is much divided, and
* I do not recollect any village in England (and I
have been in every county except Hampshire,) which is
situated more than 1000 feet above the level of the sea.
The situation of a few straggling houses, or miners’ huts,
may exceed that elevation.
M O U N T A IN V IL L A G E S . 271
small proprietors cultivate their own property
on the mountains, it is absolutely
necessary that they should reside near it,
otherwise a great part of their time and
strength would be exhausted in ascending
and descending, as it would take a mountaineer
four hours in each day, to ascend to
many of these villages and return to the valley.
In building their houses on the mountains,
they place them together in villages,
when it can be done, and at a moderate
distance from their property, to have the
comforts of society, and be more secure
from the attack of wolves and other wild
animals. Potatoes and barley can be cultivated
at the height of 4500 feet in Savoy,
and these, with cheese and milk, and a little
maize for porridge, form the principal part
of the food of the peasantry.
Several ofthe mountain villages, with the
white spires of their churches, form pleasing
objects in the landscape, but on entering
them the charm vanishes, and nothing
can exceed the dirtiness and want of comfort
which they present, except the cabins
of the Irish. Yet habit, and a feeling of
independence, which the mountain peasant
enjoys under almost every form
Iv. .-^I
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