i 4 it"-
' - ^ É Î 5
Il •
i 4 "
■ S ^^Sim ínwik: -
m
the penitent grew whiter after each lustra-
tration, as his peccant stains were washing
out. Our conductress, a girl from the inn,
informed us that the man had committed
some petty theft. We should not have remained
in the church, as it was a secret
service, had not the girl hinted that our
beinoo; there would not oe-ive offence.
The Vallaisiens are said to be extremely
superstitious, and to trust much to supernatural
power for the remedy of evils, that
require only prudence or industry to avoid.
It was customary to exorcise the maladies
of the sick, or even a rock that was in danger
of falling, or any natural calamity, by
which they were menaced. They retain
some fêtes and processions of pagan origin,
which the church does not approve. Formerly
a singular species of ostracism was
enforced in this canton, when it was intended
to drive away any powerful and
obnoxious member of the state. A large
club was provided, the end of which was
rudely carved into the shape of a man’s
head, the supposed representation of the
obnoxious party. Fvery one who wished
his expulsion drove a nail into this club,
and when the number of nails was supposed
to be sufficiently great, this emblem was
carried in procession before the house of
the offender, who was summoned to justify
his conduct; but he was always condemned
without being heard in his defence,
and ordered to emigrate in a certain time.
I f he refused to obey the sentence, his
house was attacked and pillaged. This process
of club-law has been long obsolete.
I have often reflected on the misery that
exists in this canton, compared with the
Oberland of Berne, which is only divided
from it by the same range of mountains,
and is less fertile. I am inclined to attribute
the misery of the Vallaisiens chiefly to
the circumstance of the land belonging to
a few great proprietors, who let it to the
peasantry, and they being merely tenants,
feel but little interest in its improvement.
We were told at Briegg of one proprietor
who owned the principal part of the land
in the valley of the Rhone, from that place
to L e u k ; the baths of Leuk were also his
property. I omitted to inquire into the
division of property in the other districts
of this canton, but I think I was informed
that the citizens of Sion possess a great
part of the land in the upper Valíais. In
situations of difficult access, and exposed
Q 2
h'
k;; —n~ ÉmatsmiÊL.