1 9 6
Vespia Nobilis, Visp the Noble ; Sriga Dives, Brieg the Opulent, or rich ; and Gmesia
Calholica, or Goms the Catholic.
I n the latter of these dizains they are tolerably easy in their circumstances, living in
considerable comfort, though their habitations be only of wood -, bul they are so neat,
convenient, and simple, that they at once reconcile you to them. Their appearance is
likewise striking, being in general painted red. The upper part of the house serves for
t h e abode of the family, and the lower is converted into stables or hovels for the cattle.
Yet are the generality of these hovels so constructed, that in the long and tedious winter
evenings they afford the inhabitants a warm and comfortable retreat j the cattle
being placed on both sides of the building, separated by boards, leaving the centre
clear for the family, under which runs a rivulet that carries off all dirt, filch, &c.
The costumé or dress of the country, for both men and women, is extremely neat
and unaffected : they pique themselves on the fineness of their linen, which seems to be
their greatest luxury.
This is also the only province of the Valíais where I did not perceive any goitrous
appearances ; for the men, on the contrary, are strong, robust, and courageous, prizing
their independence above every other consideration, and practising, indiscriminately,
the virtues of hospitality to every stranger who appears deserving of attention 5—circumstances
which, though they may at first surprise, are certainly not so astonishing in a
people whose natural simplicity of morals, situation, and character, cannot be supposed
to esteem or love what they are not acquainted with ; that is, those pretended advantages
so eagerly sought after, and held in such high estimation, by nations who style
themselves polished, as a compensation for the loss or privation of their liberties.
The Vallaisans, being ignorant of what may be called imaginary or capricious
wants, are perfectly contented with what they possess, and neither covet nor envy their
neighbours'property ; on the contrary, they are.solicitous for each other's society, and
encourage no ambitious desires : for surely no doubt can exist, that the fatal causes
of suspicion and secret animosity, which too often prevail among the generality of mankind,
though more conspicuously in countries where wealth and opulence are most predominant,
in great measure originate from covetousness and ambition,—vices which invariably
increase in proportion as the desires of our imagination assume greater ascendency.
1 was much surprised at not having seen any beggars sincc my departure from Sion,—
a circumstance which I had by no means expected j and, of course, Ir^as naturally
1 9 7
induced to search into the cause ; therefore, finding my host communicative and tolerably
intelligent, I pitchcd on him as a proper person to address my questions to
on the subject.
I n consequence of my interrogatories concerning the method pursued by their magistrates
to suppress so great a nuisance, and at the same time to relieve real indigence,
h e informed me, they had no beggars in the Upper Valláis who could properly be styled
such J for, as they had no considerable fortunes in the country, luxury was consequently
unknown, and each individual, perfectly satisfied, indiscriminately possessed
his house, or chaumitre, on different parts of the mountain, with a small garden adjoining
it, and the privilege to send his cattle, for four or five months in the year, to
graze on the pastures scattered in various parts of the Alps, in like manner, I may add,
as the poor in England send theirs to heaths and commons ; but that, with regard to
the most common necessaries of life, such as corn, for example, which they deemed
their dearest or most expensive object, the inhabitants of the republic, the population
of which is estimated at nearly one hundred thousand souls, so contrived it, that from
breeding much cattle, which they dispose of, as before mentioned, to the Piedmontese
and Milanese, and their wants being few or limited, they in reality received more
money from Italy than was sufficient for the purchase of different kinds of grain for
their own consumption; that in each dizain there were likewise public magazines
or granaries, and that, in time of scarcity, the government, who allowed persons of every
description to purchase the com tliey wanted, distributed a certain quantity to the poor
or indigent, in proportion to the number of persons in their families j that these had
also permission to have tiiat corn ground, gratis, at the moulins banmii, or public mills,
and afterwards baked at the ovens, kept open for that purpose *.
And here it may be necessary to observe, as there are many who may not be
acquainted with the circumstance, that in the Valíais, as well as in Switzerland and
Savoy, it is an invariable custom, in all towns and parishes, to have similar mills
and ovens erected by government, who let them out to private individuals. These
ovens are heated every two or three days, according to the population of the adjacent
* Reflecting on this circumstance laüt winter, when corn was so very dear in England, and the poor in
the greatest distress, I could not but wonder thai a nation so wise and considerate as the Englisli are allowed
to be, did not adopt some plan of tliis kind, and wliy tlic parliament did not pa« an act, ordaining Üiat
there should be establislicd, in every parish throughout the kingdom, a public mill (either water or wind)
and a public oven. Tliis would be a great relief to the poor.
''W
111: