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I again observed, at no consideraWe distance from this village, thick calcareous
strata of white stone, lying on a species of rock that does not effervesce with acids.
But the most remarkable circumstance was, that the above strata are in many parts
covered by that same non-effervescent rock. All these facts, added to others which I
have not deemed necessary to dwell upon in the present work, will, I flatter myself,
a future day, to support my opinion relative to the formation of our continents,
valleys, and lakes, as well as on the periodical change experienced by the sea at
different periods of time. From Dovredo to Domo d'Ossola, a small town situated
at the basis of Simplón, the distance may be computed at about nine English miies.
This town belongs to his Sardinian majesty, and is nine hundred and forty-two feet
above the level of the sea, consequently twelve hundred and eighteen less elevated than
Brieg, which is seated north of the pass,—a circumstance that most assuredly corroborates
very forcibly what has already been suggested concerning the great degree of abruptness
and depth which in general prevails at the head of all villages in the Alps that terminate
on the side of Italy, comparatively to what they have next to Switzerland and France.
As I had no intention, when I set out, of descending into the plains of Italy,
I proceeded no further than Simpelendorf, and from thence returned to Brieg, where, on
account of the length of that day's journey, I remained tlie following in this c
cient capital of the Viberi,—a people who, in the time of the Romans, inhabited that
part of the Lepontine Alps. Many of the churches and houses here are really handsome,
being ornamented with pilasters and columns of a species of lapis ollaris, of a deep
green colour, with blue and yellow spots, fine-grained, and soft. This species of stone,
which is a true serpentine, and cannot be injured by fire, is found in a quarry near
the Rhône, half a league from the village of Arnem, and is used by the inhabitants of
the country for stoves, in like manner as those of Lides. I then crossed the Rhône on
a stone bridge, at no considerable distance from Brieg, and soon arrived at Naters, an
extensive village included in the Dizains of Brieg, where, on a stupendous micaceous
rock, striated with quartz, are still extant the ruins of the castle of Flue, now belonging
to the bishop of Sion ; but, from its having originally been in the possession of a
family which has acted so conspicuous a part in the history of. the Valláis, I am
tempted to annex some few facts relative to it.
This ancient family of Flue, or Super Saxo, one of the most powerful of the republic,
viewing with jealousy and discontent the bishop's ascendency, raised against the see,
for a series of years, much trouble and inquietude ; till at last, having gained sufficient •
influence, it caused the famous cardinal Matthew Schinner, the then bishop of Sion, to be
expelled from the Valláis, at the close of the sixteenth century. Nevertheless, this prelate,
who was no less active than ambitious, possessing eloquence and a most intriguing mind,
who had likewise unfortunately promoted the shedding of much of the Vallaisan blood
in useless military expeditions in the Milanese, soon found means to reinstate himelf in
his diocese, and, by way of retaliation, expelled, in his turn, this very family of the
Flues, and took possession of their estates. These internal dissensions, added to the
abuse of wealth and power enjoyed by many individuals of the country, frequently
roused the people, and at last forced them to have recourse to violent measures, which
were of some continuance ; during which, the following singular custom was for a time
established. To procure redress of their grievances, they first placed a figure, representing
the country, meanly dressed, and with a dejected countenance, in one of their
most frequented streets or squares, round which the multitude assembled from every
part, and, addressing themselves to it with eagerness, inquired as to the cause of
its wretched and miserable appearance ; when a person styled Procureur du Peuple, or
the People's Advocate, previously instructed for the purpose, in a long and strenuous
harangue, answered for the figure, pointing out the grievances under which the people
laboured, the mode of redress, and the individuals who were the apparent authors of
their calamities: during which time, an immense billet (by them called maze or 7nass!ie)
of wood being erected, each malcontent, as he approached, drove in a nail, by way of
engaging himself to see public vengeance properly executed. This maze, or massue,
was then carried and placed in the front of the house belonging to the magistrate -
or noble deemed culpable by the people, who in general, from instruction being given
him, was so fortunate as to make his escape in time, when the populace, in order to
make amends for not finding him, regaled themselves at his expense, and too often
ended by demolishing the house and every thing belonging to it. These arbitrary acts,
and kind of ostracism, not unlike those witnessed in our time, but which justice and
law have at last fortunately crushed and put an end to, were soon after terminated by
the mediation of the Swiss cantons, where no such custom existed.
Now to proceed on my route.—I first began to remark, a little beyond the bridge of
Naters, some large pieces of granite lying in the bed of the Rhône, most probably carried
hither by the Massa, a torrent which precipitates itself impetuously from the top of
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