T H E RH^TIAN ALPS. 79
they can carry, peel off the bark, and ftrip it of its brandies, leaving juft enough towards
the top to form a kind of bouquet, to which is hung garlands of flowers, tied together
with ftrings, or ribbands of the colour moft worn by the young woman; for the colour
ferves to diftinguilh the favourite, in cafe there ihould be feveral daughters in the fanie
houfe; as alio by way of declaration to the young men of the adjacent villages that no new
fuitor can be admitted.
THE day on which the tree is placed is their grand gala, as their union is then looked
upon as certain. Both families meet j fathers, mothers, and grandfathers, are not forgotten,
who frequently travel a great way to fliare the happinefs of their children.
THIS rural feftivity takes place twice a year, till the marriage is celebrated: many
happy unions are formed by means of thefe innocent and agreeable amufements; and
they contribute in a great mcafure to the natural good-humour and fprighdinefs which
characterize the Tyrolefq.
THE gala I was witnefs to was fimilar to what I have defcribed} for, foon after quitting
Buchlbach, I perceived in a meadow, at fomc diftance from the road, a concourfe of
' people alTembled near a cottage. Having ftopped a few moments to fatisfy my curiofity,
I plainly difcerned a group of young folk, colkaed round a tree, decorated with
flowers, executing dances peculiar to their country; fuch as waJfes, allmandes, &c. to the
found of their favourite mulic, which is a kind of clarion, accompanied by the oiier flute
mentioned in a former fedion. The old people were feated on wooden benches of a femicircular
form at the front of tlie houfe, and feenied equally to enjoy the pleafures of the
day, forming altogether a fubjed worthy the pencil of Tcniers.
NOT being as yet fuiEciently gratified, I entered the meadow, wlien two of the young
men, perceiving me, immediately came up with great courtefy, inviting me to accept of
fome refrefliment and join thek party; but, finding that I did not clearly underftand
them, as they fpoke German, one of them fetched a venerable old man, who repeated
the fame folicitations in Italian, with fo mucli cordiality and good-humour, that I found
myfelf obliged to acquiefce. During the ihort ftay I made with tliem, I gained the
above intelligence. Indeed I could have wifhed to have lengthened my vifit, in order
to inform myfelf more particularly in regard to the cuftoms and manners of the country,
b.eing perfuaded tliat by converfing with that honefl: clafs of people one frequently gains
much neceflary information towards juftly charaderizing tlie inhabitants of a country.
After accepting of fome refrefliments, whicli they offered in profufion, I took my leave,
thanking them for their cordial welcome, without daring to offer payment, fearing to
rcceive an anfwer fimilar to that given by a country woman of Contamine (a village on
the road to the Glaciers in Savoy) to Mr. De Saufllire, who, wifhing to pay for fomc pears
which