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the Triphon, near the village which takes its name, a quarry of beautiful marble, partly
covered with a yellowish calcareous stratum, in which was contained a quantity of
marine fossils, among which the bivalves were most numerous.
The town of Bex is ancient ; but from its being, as before noticed, delightfully
situated, and at no great distance from the salt-works at Bevieux, strangers desirous
of visiting them are thence induced to make it their place of residence for the time,
Provisions being likewise excellent, and at a moderate price, many old Swiss officers,
retired from the service, live here with their families, and greatly contribute
towards rendering the society of Bex extremely pleasant.
The distance from hence to the frontiers of Berne, which does not exceed three
miles, may be said to offer, if not nearly the whole way, at least at intervals, prospects
of great beauty, though the valley continually contracts, and the mountains gradually
rise to such a degree, that, at the bridge of St. Maurice [Vide XIX.), the Rhône
totally fills up the valley.
Having there crossed, by a small corps-de-garde built at the foot of the bridge, I
found myself in the republican state of the Vallaisans, of which a small square tower
indicates the limit, as seen in the drawing. This bridge is certainly of beautiful construction,
and supposed by the inhabitants to have been built by the Romans,—a conjecture
by no means improbable. It is formed, as represented, of one single arch,
through which the whole of the Rhône flows with great rapidity and extreme depth,
although it has dug this bed through a thick and wide calcareous stratum, the sections
of which may be now considered as forming its barrier. The length of the bridge is
two hundred and twenty feet, the opening of the arch about one hundred and sixtythree,
and its form nearly that of a semi-circle.
The little town of St. Maurice, which guards the entrance of the Lower Valíais, and
is indeed its capital, is situate between two high mountains, at the western side of the
• Rhône, and composed only of one long street, lined on both sides with handsome
houses, which, at first sight, raises in the traveler an idea of its consequence, superior
to what it in reality possesses. Its inhabitants, who are certainly less industrious tlian
the Bernese, appear likewise to enjoy fewer comforts; an appearance which is diffused
throughout that part of this republic, which is not considered as truly independent, but
attached, as subordinate subjects, to the Upper Valíais, and of course excluded from
having any share in their own government, although democrática!.
It