m g M
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approaches the lateral mountains, and begins to rise by a gentle slope, the soil improves,
and becomes more fruitful and well cultivated : and it must be acknowledged,
that the inhabitants of this part of the VaSlais, though much of the country still appears
poor and miserable, spare neither pains nor labour to ameliorate the land, and to
increase its fertility and value, either by digging deep ditches to drain off the water, or
by constructing strong mounds or dykes to oppose the impetuosity of the river, in order
to keep it in its proper channel. But, unfortunately, these efforts have not as yet been
crowned with the success that had been expected, nor in all probability ever will, till
the surface of the soil rises higher, or the bed of the river sinks lower,—alterations
which time will naturally produce. For one of the greatest obstacles they have now
to contend with, and which can in no wise be prevented, is the periodical overflowing
of the Rhône at the melting of the snow from off the stupendous peaks that
screen both sides of the valley in an extent of more than one hundred miles, which is
the distance estimated from Martignie to the source of that river, at . which time the
rise of the water is so considerable and powerful as to carry away most of the barriers
erected during the summer.
Besides, these dykes naturally forcing the water towards tlie opposite shore, each
individual, desirous of preserving his lands, finds it impossible, without materially
injuring his neighbour, which consequently brings on discontent, and becomes a source
of disagreements, grievous impediments against the ameliorating of land, or any thing
else. These disagreements, likewise, often create law-suits, and bring inevitable ruin
on both parties, leaving the unfortunate spot either uncultivated, or else to be reaped
by the attorney only, and thus too often realising the fable of the oyster and the
litigants.
There are two roads which lead from Martignie to Sion ; one that crosses the plain
above mentioned, which may be considered a tolerable good summer-road, though
unvaried in appearance, and intensely hot ; the other, by which I directed my course, is
pjeasanter, and also more instructive, from its following the bases of the mountains that
screen the southern part of the valley, as before noticed, and which are apparently all
of schistus, or calcareous stone of the secondary order. Thus did I proceed till I
reached Saxon, a village delightfully situated, and the first from Martignie -, for the hills
that surround its southern extremity, including those which lie on the other side, are
extremely fruitful, exhibiting, almost every-where, a succession of extensive vineyards
171
and rich meadows, crowned with immense dark groves of firs and pines, which lose
themselves in the permanent snow that covers the spiry peaks of the mountains, to
which these hills may be deemed the first steps. Beyond this village, I remarked, on
my right, a mountain, containing veins of a fine white, gypsum, wedged in between
thick strata of bluish schisti, in which were a kind of quartzose kidney-shaped stone,
called by Wallerius fssilis rudis Tenifoi-mis, spec. 4; but contiguous to the Rhone
those same schisti are covered with calcareous strata, stretching considerably toward
the south-east.
Having crossed this river, I soon reached St. Peter's, the last village at the extremity
of the Lower Valíais ; and here the right banks of the Rhône, which I was then pursuing,
displayed on all sides landscapes no less fertile and pleasing than those I had
before noticed on the opposite side; the vineyards, likewise, which lie in a southern
aspect, yield a more excellent species of wine, both in quality and flavour, than that
which is made in the environs of Martignie. The surrounding scenery was truly beautiful,
and still animated by the active industry of the peasantry, who had not yet retired
from their daily labour, but were, on the contrary, dispersed in straggling groupes over
the adjacent fields, gathering in the harvest with unremitting alacrity. While some
were reaping, and others busily employed in tying up the sheaves and making the shocks,
or else assisting to cart, the aged were preparing the rustic feast beneath the shade
of some large chesnut-trees, under the thick foliage of which the young men were
promiscuously to assemble, to relax from the fatigues of the day,—forming, altogether,
one of the most pleasing and interesting prospects imaginable. At no great distance
from St. Peter's I crossed the Morgia, a river which takes its source at the foot of
Mont Dungel, on the frontiers of Berne, and serves as a limit or division between the
Upper and Lower Valíais.
Before passing this river, which in the environs of Sion occasions great damage,
I observed the mouldering ruins of two ancient castles, hanging, as it were, on stupendous
rocky peaks on the left side of the road, which, from their singular appearance,
attracted my attention, and really exhibited a most picturesque coup-d'oeil. Being
anxious to gain information, and know to whom they had originally belonged, I found
them, on inquiry, to be die remains of the famous castles of Montorsum and Leon,
described bySimler in his History of the Valíais, the former of which had been destroyed,
in 1416, by the inhabitants of the Upper Valláis, and the latter about the year
il.
' i .