Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1850-07-12
Description of MOntSerrat.
By A TRAVELLER IN 17G0.


height, appear to be nothing when viewed
from the top of this mountain. 1t is in the
middle of the principality Of Catalonia, seven
leagues to the west of Barcelona. 1t is so
very high that before you get half way to the
top, on a clear day, you may see the Noun
tains iE Mlnorco and Ivica, which ale a hun
dred and forty or fifty miles of.
In many parts Of this mountain there are
monstrous caverns, with torrents of water
running through them. The rocks being sep
arated from each other as if they had been
cut with saw, gave occasion to the name of
Montserrat.
At the very discovery o: this prodigious
mountain, the singuIarity and oddness of its
figure promises something extraordinary, COR
it has grand and august appearance, even at
a considerable distance thousands Of prodi-
giously high and rugged pyramids, presenting
themselves at once, look like petrifed forest.
The nearer you approach it, the more it af-
fects you; but until you are very near, you
can hardly form in your mind anything like
what you find it TO be when you come close
10 it. Till you are just upon it, you would
take it to be mountain of shagged stcepes,
and broken towers, rising in the midst of
groves Of the taIlest trees, when you come
upon the spot, you will find that stupendous
cluster Of pyramids 10 some places fixed in
groves, and in others intcrsparsed with trees,
which at the best have but a small portion of
earth to nourish them, and, in general, rise
out of the cefts Of the rocks.
There are dispersed about this mountain
thirteen hermit's cells, each with its fountains
cistcrns. and little garden, beautiful and fra
grant. One OF these cells is near the summit,
winding paths and though these paths branch
off to every particular cell, it would be very
difficult for 4 stranger to visit them in order;
but they keep az that is trained to the
business, and does it every day; for it is he
that carries the hermits their provisions from
the convent that lies below. At the hour ap-
pointed a servant loads him with a pair Of
panniers, in which there are thirteen parti-
tions, in each of which they put the portion
of food designed for each cell, aud the crea-
ture has no sooner received his cargo than he
marches off without any attendant or guide,
and stops with great regularity at each cell,
and when lie has delivered lis last portion, lie
returns as regularly.
The harnits of Montscrrat are frequently
persons Of distinction, who have become dis
gustcd with the follcs Of the world. Some
Of them are pleased with the conversation Of
strangers, and others so avcrsc to it, that they
live entirely recluse, except on Sundays, up
on which days they meet together, and dine
with the community in the common hall of
the convent. Some of these Eermits are very
courteous to strangers, and take pleasure in
showing them all the curiosities of their par
ticular cells. One Of them entcrta:ns his
guests with a very agreeable and novel sight.
He advances few steps from hs door, AMI
gives a loud whistle, upon which large num-
Der Of little birds flock around linn, some a
lighting upon his shoulders, others upon his
head, while some are feeding out Of his
mouth, aud others endeavoring TO share with
them.
Springs and cascades are 50 frequent on the
mountain, that tile hcrmitagcs are all we'll
supplied with water of an excellent quality.
Not only the murmur of the water, and the
beauty Of the cascades are very agreeable, but
little hollows among the rocks are enamclcd
with flowers, to which, if we add the vast
extent and variety Of prospect from the top
of the mountain, nothing can be more surpri-
sing and great, or more romantic and agrcca-
bic.
Each of the hermitages on Montserrat is
dedicated to some saint. That of St. Dimas
(the good thief.) stands on the point of rock
with tremendous precipices on every side
This place is also called the castle, on ac
count Of a castle that was formerly built
there and which was completely inaccessible,
except by passing over draw bridges. This
place was once in possession Of a gang of
banditti, consisting Of thirty in number. 1t
was found very difficult to dislodge them from
this place, for after plundering the country
far aud near they returned and slept secure
~ IN the castle and when their provisions
began TO fail, some Of them came 10 the point
of a rock that oyerhung the convent, and from
whence they 50 cffcctualIy commanded II, by
throwing down great stones upon II, that the
monks were obliged to supply them with what
they wanted; but the monks kept coutinu-
al SPY upon them, in hopes of finding an op-
poriunity TO attack the place. Accordingly,
when observing by tie numbers that went
cut, that the garrison must be weak, SIX or
seven desperate fellows climbed up the rock,
at the utmost hazard Of their lives, and were
50 fortunate as to enter the place without be-
ing perceived. They found but two or three
Of the banditti, whom they Immediately drove
out, and kept possession for the Abbot, who
caused the castle TO be demolished, and the
/ present hermitage TO be built there.