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T H E RH^TIAN ALPS.
S E C T I O N VIL
DEPARTURE FROM STEINACH — ARRIVAL AT 1N5PRUCK — GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ON
THE ORIGIN AND FORM OF GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTY OF TYROL —
DESCRIPTION OF THAT COUNTRY — I T S EXTENT, MOUNTAINS,
AND DIFFERENT PRODUCTIONS —REMARKS ON THE
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF 1
T H E town or borough of Steinach is the feat of government of the diftriA of the
fame name, which only contains four vallies. Its fituation is as pleafant, and the
country as well cultivated, as Sterzing and its environs, although much more elevated.
THE town is at the confluence of two rivers, viz. the Sill, which takes its fource, as
we have feen, on the top of mount Rrpnnpr, and the OrchniV., which rifes at the foot
of Spiz-fiming, a high mountain, fituated to the north of the Glacier Stuben. This
river crofles a valley of the fame name, which is populous and rich in paiturage. Its
courfe extends from north-eaft to fouth-weft.
STEINACH is feated nearly in the centre of the higheft mountains in the county of
Tyrol. Towards the eaft, is feen, rifing majeilically from the midft of a long chain of
Glaciers, extending from north-eaft to fouth-weft, the great and lofty Gefrorne, which
feems to vie in point of height with mount Blanc. This enormous mountain of granite
is continually covered with fnow, and is one of the higheft peaks in the Rhatian Alps.
The chain of Glaciers, which I have juft mentioned, are known by the name of Duxer,
and extend upwards of ten miles. The inhabitants of the vallies, fituated at the foot
of thefe tremendous heaps of ice, occupy and fupport themfelves chiefly in fearching for
chryftals- of different fpecies, which are found there in great abundance. I have feen
fome that referable Spatk-Jluores oElacdre, one inch in diameter, of a bright red colour,
as alfo rock chryftals, or chryfiallus montana, that weighed upwards of four pounds.
TOWARDS the weft of Steinach rifes mount Habich-fpiz, which although not fo high as
the Gefrorne, is yet continually covered with fnow. Not far from its fummit, on one
of its fraflured fides, is feen a fmall Glacier; but the name I could not learn. In a
fouth-weft diredtion ftands mount Tributaun, one of the moft elevated peaks belonging
to that chain of mountains which form the Great Brenner.
I SHALL