54 T R A V E L S THROUGH
1 AM indebled to my guide for firil fuggefting to me die idea of vifiting them, and his
remarks led nic to make thofe obfefvations which have fince been confirmed by Monfieur
De Dolomieu. I obferved, that the calcareous ftrata in general inclined towards the
fouth, forming different angles with the horizon. I was forry that want of time prevented
my convincing myfelf whctlier thofe ftones contained any marine fubftances. My
guide aflured me that they did; but I will not attempt to affirm from report what is of
fo much confequence. It is time I Ihould leave this digreiTion, and quit Sterzing. I
returned in hafte to the inn, where I found my guide and his equipage (for he had
procured me an excellent mule) \^aiting for my arrival. Wc liad at firil fome doubts
concerning the weather, the clouds appearing fufpicious; but theyj fortunately for us,
foon diilipated, and we prepared ourfelves to fet oiF. Having flung my barometer in a
kind of ihoulder-belt, for fear of accidents, wc direded our courfe weftward, leaving on
the left <hp torrent Filler, wfinr? nnifp vvas bparrl at fn amny.mg dilUnce, rumbling
impetuoufly at the bottom of a precipice. We foon gained the fnudl hamlet of
Raminge, which is fituated on the declivity of the mountain: we propofed croiTing it, to
ihorten our way. The torrent Faller, having, in feveral places, deepened upwards of
three hundred feet below the furface of the earth, had caufed much of the ground to
give way, leaving large gaps, or openings, where one could witli eafe difcover the different
ilrata of the mountain. I obferved that the lowefl: ftrata was more than eighty
feet in thicknefs, of a fpecies of mill ftone, or cos molaris: above that was another, upwards
of twenty feet, compofed of a coarfe black fand, intermixed with feveral pieces
of quartz, feldfpath, granite, and marble, befides pebbles of different kinds. The
next ilratum was a fpecies of fandy flate, or cos JiJfiUs particulis minorihus fpe. 142, which
extended to the vegetable ftratum. This fpot opens a wide field for the obfervations
of a Geologift; particularly if foflils and marine fubftances can be difcovered.
ON leaving Raminge, we continued our courfe by the fide of a large foreft of firs,
where we found feveral Alpine plants, fcattered here and there; viz. the charming Centaurea
Montana, Soldanella Alpina, Veronica» AIpina, and the Horminum Pyrenaicum.
The laft I have never been able to meet with on any of the mountains of Savoy or
Switzerland. There was alfo a great variety of other plants, whofc diverfified colours
attraftcd our notice. After a very laborious afcent, we reached at lail tlie fummit of
the mountain, which was entirely covered with refinous trees; fuch as larch, firs, wild
pines, &c. We then defcended into the gloomy valley of Fallming, which is much more
wild and agreftic than the one we had croffed in our way tiiither. From thence we
followed the courfe of another large torrent, which takes its fource at the foot of mount
Taffer. The range of mountains on the left, which are of a prodigious height, were
moftly formed of different forts of compound ftones, or lapides compoftti: whilft tJiofe on
the
• T H E RH^TIAN ALPS. 55
the riglifc, which are not fo elevated, were nearly calcareous, or a fpecies of fchiftus,
which effervefccs with acids. We were obliged to difmount and lead our mules the
whole way, owing to the badnefs of the roads.
AFTER much fatigue we arrived in the valley of Pflerfcher, which is nearly in a
parallel diredion with that of Ridnaun. Its extenfion is about fix miles, containing
feveral different mines. Thofe of filver, although not reckoned t!ie moft produdive,
amply repay government for the expence of working them. This valley olFers a fimilar
example to that of Val de Mont-Joie, mentioned by Monfieur de Sauffure, chap. xxvi.
vol. iii. of his Voyage in the Alps : for the torrent Pflerfcher, which croffes the valley,
makes a total feparation between the primordial and fecondary mountains.
• THOSE which are towards the north, being xiioftly compofed of granite, ^or rock ftone,
of different kinds, have their fummits perfedly. bare and rugged, refembling thofe of the
fecondary mountains, when particularly elevated. Whilft, on the contrary, thofe tliat are
in a fouthern direftion are, for the moft part, calcareous or fchiftus, and effervefce with
acids ; but their fummits are covered with trees and meadows.
ALTHOUGH we had met with many diiSculties near the torrent of Fallming, we
arrived before twelve at the village of Pflerfch, which is the principal town in the valley;
•The houfes refemble thofe of Switzerland, being built of wood, with feveral galleries
one above the other, which nearly furround the building; but with all the neatnefs,
and convenience, analogous to the comfortable appearance of the inhabitants, who,
without affluence, live in great eafe : for I did not difcover in the whole valley an individual
who appeared in want ; or any of thofe miferable objefts who are the emblems of
wretchcdnefs and woe, fo frequently met with in countries where the humble cottage is
cruftied beneath the weight of columns and pedeftals, which ferve to ornament the
ftately cdifices of the rich. Happy people 1 Yoiir felicity will be durable, fince it depends
on the integrity and honefty of your hearts, and tlic purity of your morals, guarded by
the juftice of your laws, and the lenity with which they are adminifteredl
IT is certain that a country apparently poor contains lefs real mifery than one which,
at firft view, appears more opulent : for, in the firft, wealth being more equally divided,
its inhabitants of courfe preferve their morals untainted, and retain that degree of firmnefs
and fteadinefs which is charaderiftic of man in his natural ftate ; whilft the inferior
clafs of tlie fécond, owing to the inequality of riclies, are frequently obliged to bend
to the wiihes of the opulent, wlio often avail themfelves of their fuperiority, to corrupt
their innocence and integrity. The village of Pflerfch, where we took fome refrcihment,
is feated at the foot of the higli primordial mountains, Tributaun, Eifen, and Roth.
From thence we proceeded on foot, being under the neceffity of leaving our mules, on
account of the badnefs of tlie road, towards Lower Stein, which is a fmall hamlet,
fituated