Hov the mountains on either side were covered with
iorests of fir trees, but almost immediately after
leaving that place, and ascending to a higher level,
nothing but birches Avere to be seen,—the sudden
transition from the one to the other being very remarkable.
TheloAver parts of the mountains, sloping
gently down to the river, Avere clothed with laro-e
open patches of rich pasturage; and numerous
clusters of cottages Avere everyAvhere scattered along
their sides and the banks of the river. The Guul
liere becomes A-ery narrow and, rushing in a torrent
down the mountains, is entirely lost sight of from
the road at no great distance from its source. In
going along this route I observed that, Avherever the
hirch-tree thrives, the pasturage is remarkably rich,
and very scanty among the fir forests, unless they
are mixed Avith birch, or that birch is groAving
plentifully in the immediate neighbourhood.
On the sides of the mountains of this valley I
had the pleasure to hear, Avhat I had often before
heard, the peasant girls at their several sceters, or
summer pasturing stations, calling the cattle together
by a song which is in universal use—a sort
of ranz dcs vaches. This song is, in fact, felt
throughout Noi’Avay much in the same manner as
the latter is among the Swiss, and is perfectly understood
by the cattle themselves, Avho immediately
ansAver the call. The air has been adapted by a
Noi’Avegian gentleman to the piano-forte, and having
obtained a copy of it at Tronyem, I subjoin it, Avith
the words, and a free translation, in the hope that
it may not be less pleasing to my fair country-
Avomen than, in its original state, it Avas to me;
though the romantic situation, no doubt, contributed
not a little, like that of the ranz in Switzerland, to
produce the enchanting effect. The first stanza
only is what the girls usually sing in calling their
cattle to be milked, A v i t h
“ Come, my cows, come.
Come, my little calves,” &c.
The simple air is A’ery pretty, but the Avords will
not bear a translation; I have, however, added a
translation of the other three stanzas.
AAGOTS F JE LD SA N G .
Andante. |
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