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218 CANTON OF VALLAIS.
It was then the vintage, but instead of
the happiness and cheerfulness which description
had led me to anticipate, and
which I afterwards saw in some of the
other cantons, I was every where shocked
with the sight of a wretched population.
The Vallaisienne damsels returning home
in the evening with their little flocks,
formed pleasing groups at a distance, but
these shepherdesses of the Alps bore no
more resemblance to les bergères des Alpes
of the poets, than the Hottentot Venus to
the Venus de Medicis.
Though nature appears to have dealt
unkindly with the Vallaisiens, they suffer
much less from natural than from moral
evils, or rather the former are greatly in creased
by the latter. Superstition, ignorance,
and indolence deprive them of
the comforts and security which an enlightened
industry might procure. For
instance, the valley might be rendered far
more healthy and productive by draining.
This, I am persuaded, could be effected
without a great expense, principally by
blasting the rocks, and opening the channel
of the Rhone in certain parts where
it is confined; and by giving a freer passage
CANTON OF VALLAIS. 219
through the sand-banks and debris on its C5
side, by which its course is impeded during
floods. The go.vernment should undertake
the management of this, and not trust to
the proprietors or the communes through
whose land the river flows. In the choice
of situations for building villages and cottages,
care should be taken to avoid stagnant
air, and places exposed to eboulements
or sudden to rren ts; but instead of this,
after an accident from either of these causes,
its probable recurrence seems to be forgotten,
as they generally rebuild their
houses on the same spot.
Many parts of this valley are extremely
fertile, and, the warmth is sufficient to
favour the growth of the vegetable productions
of more southern latitudes. Round
Sion and Sierre fig-trees, almond-trees,
pomegranates, and mulberry-trees flourish
abundantly, and the grapes are rich in
flavour.
In the management of their vines the
Vallaisiens are both slovenly and unskilful.
No rich patriotic inhabitant has attempted
to introduce improvements suited to the
soil and climate; but one of the greatest
of all improvements would be cleanliness
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