272 M O U N T A IN P A S T U R E S . M O U N T A IN P A S T U R E S . 273
of government, makes him disregard
the inconveniences of his situation and
abode.
“ Dear is that shed to which his soul conforms,
And dear the hill that lifts him to the storms,
And as a child, when scaring sounds molest.
Clings close and closer to his mother’s breast.
So the loud torrent and the whirlwinds roar.
But bind him to his native mountains more.”
G o l d s m i t h .
The mountain pastures, situated above
the line of cultivation, are the property of
rich individuals in the valley, or belong
to whole parishes and communes. In the
former case, the proprietor has chalets on
the mountains for his servants, who go
there with the cattle soon after the snow is
melted, and remain in these elevated situations
during the summer months, being
employed in taking care of the cows and
in making cheese. The proprietors visit
them occasionally, to examine the state
of their cattle and dairies. When we
had travelled a considerable way up the
valley, we met a party in their holiday
suits, and their heads decorated with Alpine
flowers. The party consisted of an elderly
female, mounted on a mule, her son and
two daughters, on foot, and a servant girl
on an ass. The mother, as we were informed,
was a considerable proprietor, and
was returning with her family from the
mountains, where they had passed two or
three days to inspect the progress of their
dairy. I confess there was something peculiarly
pleasing in the sight of this family
g ro u p : it recalled to mind the simplicity
of the patriarchal age. The young
people evinced much hilarity ; by them
this visit to the mountains was evidently
regarded as an excursion of pleasure. The
ass, in ascending, had been laden with
their wine and provisions; for, on such occasions,
the proprietors and their families
are obliged to sleep in the chalets.
When the property belongs to a whole
parish, or commune, there are public days
of inspection, and certain regulations are
adopted, of which some account will be
given in the chapter which treats of the
agriculture of Savoy.
About six miles from Brida the road
descends to the river. After crossing it on
a bridge, we came to Boshel, a large town,
where courts of justice are held, but the
place is more celebrated from the c h a p e l of
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