Obrigucte gelu. Multos hausere profundiE
Vasta mole nives, cum-que ipsis sa;pe juvencis
Nauftaga candenti raerguntur plaustra barathro.
Interduro glacie subitam Ubente ruinam
Möns dedil, et tepldis fuodamioa subruU astris,
Pendenti malefida solo. Per talia tendit
Ftigoribos mediis Stilico loca.
T h s greatest curiosity m the Devil's Bridge consists in the boldness of the exeeution,
being btiilt of one single .rch, a plain centre or semi-circle, of about two-a„dtwenty
feet radius, supported on two stupendous rocky peaks, nearly perpendicular,
between which flow, at the depth of some hundred feet, the foaming waters of the
Rheuss, whose rapid stream, and the extreme impetuosity of so great a body of water,
confined in so narrow a rocky channel, added to the vast height of thé différent falls,
oftentimes occasion, by the vapour of the water, a constant series of rainbows, the effect
of which is truly beautiful. I have not omitted, in drawing N° X X V I I . which repre
sents the bridge, to add the quartzose rocks which skirt the valley of Schollenan, whose
strata are neariy vertical.
After having carefully examined the chain of mountains that descend along the
Rheuss, in the cantons of Uri, we returned to Urseren. where I was detained a few
days, in order to participate in the hilarity of a festival. It was one instituted in commemoration
of the retum of a youth, the son of a respectable man, an innkeeper* at
whose house I had taken up my residence, who (singular as it may appear, although it is
frequently the case in Switzerland), desirous of seeing the world, had enlisted in one of
their regiments, at that rime in the service of Prince, and who, having completed his
three years (the allotted period), was daily expected to be restored to the arms of his
father and family, by whom he was adored. And so amiable was this young man. that
bis youthful associates and friends, rejoicing at the idea of seeing him again, had assembled,
with drums bearing and the banners of their department flying, to proceed as
far as Umet - lock, in order to welcome his return and make his entry truly triumphant.
One thing, however, must be noticed, that this young soldier's friends were much
respected, and that his father, though what in England would be styled an innkeeper,
having held the otBce of Tlial Ammm, or chief magistrate, with great honour and pto-
• Properl, speaking, ftere are no regular inns. b«l lil.tall, pri.ale hou.es, »bore the traveler » . , Iblnk
himself fori™i. m bong .dmilled , and s.here, in general, e^eellent aeeomm.d.tions ar. met svilh.