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the fouth fide of tlie Col, early in the inoraing, that they might crofs this Ibmiidable
paflhge before the thaw commenced, which generally lafts from elcTen till evening, to
avoid the great danger of travelling at that time; but, aksl with all their precaution,
they were unfortunately overtaken by one of thofe rolling mountains of fnow, on the very
fpot I had fo lately paiTed, which inftantly fwept away nine mules out of the fixtecn; and
a poor pedeftrian traveller, who, unable to avoid the danger, fliared the fame fate, and was
hurled with undefcribable ^^P^dity to the bottom of the precipicc, and buried in the ihow
Curiofity led me the next day, accompanied by a friend, in order to afcertain how far this
avalange, or ball of Ihow, had extended, and the fize of its mafs.
The muleteers with extreme difficulty recovered a fmall part of their efFeas, and found
four of the mules at the bottom of the precipice, but a-uihed to pieces. As for the unfortunate
traveller, his body remained concealed for a month after the accident (as I Icamt at
my return from Turin), and when found was, as it were, agglutinated with fnow, which
was not even then entirely melted.
From the wretched hamlet we continued afcending for near half an hour, and found
ourfelves, after feveral windings, on tlie fummit of what I literally term the firft mountain,
or bafe of the Col, which prefents an irregular and rugged furface, inclining from fouthcail
to north-well, covered with turf or ihort grafs, a few ftunted trees, and a quantity of
pieces of rock of the compound kind, and a reddifli fchiHus or ilate. Still continuing for
fome time this mgged and inchned furface, it brought us to a large fubterraneous opening,
excavated within an immenfe high naked rock of a fpecies of compoimd ftone.
Its entrance faces north-eaft, and it is about two-thirds of the mountain's height from
the valley of Limon to the fummit of tlie Col.
This aftoniihing and wonderful undertaking does great honour to his Sardinian Majefty,
who has been defirous of effeiting a paflage through this mountain, for the fafer conveyance
to travellers. This opening was begun in 1782, and continued till near the time the
French took pofleffion of the pafs at the beginning of 1794. Should this plan ever be
completed, it will not only confiderably ihorten the height of this formidable paflage, the
road through which annually cofts fuch trouble and expenee, but preferve travellers from
the many dangers to which they are expofed in winter, from the avalanges and hurricanes
which are there fo tremendous.
This paflage, when finiflied, will extend nearly a mile and a half; and although I
admire the attempt, yet I have great doubts as to the poflibility of its being accomplifhcd.