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of the lake of Geneva, which was probabJy more considerable at that epocha than now,
and by the succession of torrents fed by rains, 8ic. which sweep after each other from
the top of those mountains, and throw themselves into the Rhône, as I shall hereafter
endeavour to illustrate.
The fort of CJuse has nothing remarkable except its situation, which is particularly
interesting, being as though stuck to the bare rock of the Jura, which shelves over
a part of its fortifications and outworks j while the remainder of the building hangs
as it were suspended above the narrow but impetuous course of the Rhône, on wide
calcareous strata, which project from the basis of the mountain. (See N° X.)—Many
of these lower strata differ materially from the upper, or those which command the fort,
the stones being thicker, more solid, and having fewer fossils contained in them.
The name of Ecluse, or Cluse, given to this little fortress, is doubtless owing to its
being situated at the entrance of a defile, serving as a door or barrier ; for the word
dus, which no doubt comes from the Latin clausus (shut), stiil retains a similar signification
in many of the villages of Savoy,—the inhabitants using the words dus, or lus,
for door or narrow passage. All towns and villages thus situated have generally obtained
similar appellations. (Vide the author's Rhoetian Alps, page 27.)
This post is defended by only two or three towers, with bastions, a few battlements,
and a couple of modern flèches, constructed with dry masonry. It contains an excellent
house for the commandant and officers of excise, and two round towers, originally kept
for state-prisoners.
In 1536 it was taken by the Bernois from Charles the Third, duke of Savoy, by
whom the Pays-de-Gex was then held, and of which this makes part, but was afterwards
restored in 1565. It next fell into the hands of the Genevese, in 1589} but, in consequence
of the cession of La Bresse, Bugey, and the Pays-de-Gex, to the French, at the
treaty of Lyons, in 1601, the fort was delivered up to the French troops.
Having, according to the usual custom, produced my passport, and feed one of the
officers of excise for fear of being searched, he. whilst receiving my ¡lelit écu, which I
had carefully slipped, unobserved, into his hand, made me a low and respectful bow, and
then, by way of paying me a compliment, though with a very suspicious countenance,
added—" That Monsieur was too much the gentleman to conceal any effects,
contre les ordres de sa majesté *." Had he seriously meant this sarcasm as the criterion of
* Against his majesty's orders.