New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-02-02
VOL. EEH. NO. 955.

az VIC llOuI Oi lOOu. ,cooii dileT lllt
road winds around mountain, whose darh
woods have given it the name Of the T6te N0irt
or Black Head" and then dropping down tc
the hamlet of TRENT, mounts in short zigzags
the steep side of the Col de Forclaz. The long
ascent, exposed to the meridian sun, makes the
pedestrian often stop to get fresh breath and
strength and to wipe the copious drops from his
brow, but perseverance conquers all things,
as the copy-books say, and at last the bare and
bleak summitof the ridge is gained. Before you
then lies descent almost as fatiguing, being
covered with loose stones left by the showers
which had washed away their cementlng earth.
For two hours you stumble down the hill, and
find the pines and frs Of its summit change as
you descend into chesnuts of the deepest green
the scanty heritage becomes rich pasturage; ap.
pie and pear trees appear cider-mills remind
you of home; even few grape vines are seen,
and at last you have completely left the noun
tains, and entered the valley of the Rhone at
Mqrtigny, after steeply undulating walk Of
twenty-four miles.
The shabby little town of Martigny lies at the
entrance Of the VALLAIs F; the name given to
the broad fiat valley drained, or rather watered,
by the river Rhone, which so often oyerhows its
banks as to keep the surrounding country always
lnarshy, and to poison by malaria, what it spares
in it's inundations The Vallais is the most
wretchcd region in Switzerland. It's miserable
inhabitants live in constant fear Of being over
whclmed by the Rhone, and are obliged to be
ever repairing the high dykes by its side. But
this alone would be nothing for the hardy Hol-
landers dyke out the sea, and still are prosperous
and happy, but the jewellers in the Vallas find
the sagnated waters Of the river prolific hotbeds
of disease. Fevers and agues here abound, but
worst Of all is the goitre, and its attendant,
cretinism. The traveller in the Vaais is shocked
on every side by seeing his lellow-creatures de-
formed and un-humanzed by "a hideous wallet
OF flesh" hanging from their threats like the
dew-lap" of an OK. The disgusting sight is
obtruded upon him by every beggar, and seems
to be more painful to the spectator than to its
wcarcr 1t is often accompanied with "creti-
nism," form of idlocy, probably arising from
the same cause as goitre, whatever that unknown
and mysterious agent may be- lthas been varI-
ously attributed to drinking water from the gla-
ciers, to carrying heavy weights on the head to
filthy habits, and to the use of limestone water,
but all these theories have IN turn been disproved
and the remedy for this, one of the most terri
bic of human Affections, still remains to be dis
covered by some scientific physician. ,u,y.u, ,u.
-r~,-.".S"J I" Inv S1iiP'i' W.
lows the Rhone through the Vallais. The hills
on each side are very picturesque and are crown
ed with castles, very like TO the banks OF the
Rhine. Near Martigny rises the round tower OF
La Bate, which was stormed and dlsmantled
more than 800 years ago How many centuries
before that time it was built, the records do not
say The high rock on which it stands secures
it from the foundations to which Martigny is
subjected A mark on the wall of my hotel,
nine feet above the level of the street, showed
the hight to which the waters reached in 1918.
Throughout this region the fine arts seem to
flourish greatly out of DOORS all the houses beng
painted with imitation columns, pllasters with
capitals, Bases and rustic stonc-work with
GREAT skill in colors and shadows, and with such
effect as to perfectly deceive the eye. In riding
along YOU would imagine that you were passing
through streets of colonnaded palaces, while
YOU really saw only plastered brick houses, with
snowy architecture of paint alone. Through
many such villages, whose decoration contrasted
strangely with the misery of their inhabitants and
past many castles on rocky eminences IN ten
hours from Martigny you arrive at Br'eg, to
pass the night at the foot Of the Simplon.
At the earliest break of day commences the
ascent of the mountains which divide Swltzer-
land from Italy, and whose barrier Is passed by
Napoleons. SYMPTOM ROAD, the grandest OF all
works of public utility. Too much credit is
however generally given to Napoleon and too
little to the Engineer, NJ. Ceard. The Emperor
cared nothing for the benefit of the public ne
onlv wished to facilitate his military operations.
He knew that horse-path existed over the
Simplon and he directed the Engineer to make 1t
passable for artillery, and the only questions ne
asked during its progress were, " When VIII the
cannon be able to pass the Slmplon 7" 10 M
Ceard is due all the praise for the general gram
deur of the plan of the road which ascends SO
steadily and regularly the mountain, for the SCI
entifc skill with which all the details were plan
ned, and for the foresight which anticipated and
provided for every possible chance of injury
The road is now a proud trophy OF the tnumphs
of practical science, and the Engineer should be
buried on its summit, and have over his grave the
simple inscription-given with much less pro-
priety to Sir Christopher Wren in St. PauFs
Cathedral" Stranger, if you seek for his mon
ument, look around you"
The road begins to ascend immediately on
leaving Bricg, but with gentle slope never eA-
H. Of ISfancel