The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1876-04-12
European CoTrespondencs----No. IL.

ISrgRLAKEx, SWITZERLAND.
DRAn GAZETTE :-Irterlaken is less place of in
terest in itself than good starting point for tour
lists in different directions. There are several
sons of or three days length which commonly
made from Interlaken.
1t lies between lakes Brienz and Thun on a fat
which looks as though it would suffer greatly from
fresbets it for the dyking of the river Aar'
aud of the streams which feed it from the mountain
sides. The Aar connects the two lakes.
The little town is not interesting place in which
to get weather bound, as happened US 1t is easy
enough to go away, in a long rain storm, if it
suits your plans to go by boat rail. But wanted
to go by carriage part way and part way foot
the Gelnmi Pass to thesouth, and the RhOne valley
So we waited, amusing ourselves with picncs in ho
tells, wading wet meadows, and attending the COW
fair.
Another reward for the delay was Tho most beauti
full sunset saw in Switzerland. 1t was followed by
that Incompatible after glow that poets rave about
bathing all the heavens, both east and west, With
flush of lovely light that can never forget" an
evening land - of beauty indescribabe.
The COW fairs are annual institutions in Swi zer-
land, from time immemorial.
The cattle are driven up in spring, to the Alps,
few only remaining in the village supply the in
habitants With milk during the summer The pas
on the accessible slopes called the Fore
Alps the highest called the High-Alps. On
these latter the cattle be pastured only from five
to weeks in midsummer, owing to the cold at
such attitudes. " The Alp pastures measured and
allotted with the exactness of field garden, every
COW has her appointed hill top, and goat may only
his peril, go browsing beyond his neighbors lin
it's"
The head herdsman is called Sem his chalet
among the Alps is a senu-hHtte. He has under his
direction two or three men and boys, one of whom is
the vcesenn. These three or four persons can take
care of fifty or sixty cows. The Sem has all the care
of the milk doors The vce-senn transports cheese
and butter attends to getting supplies of food fuel,
&c. Then there is COW boy, and perhaps, besides,
an errand boy. They rise at dawn for the first milk
ing and it i; high before the consequent work is
through.
Then comes the second milking and the same work
to do over again, keeping them busy till bed time.
So they work all summer, taking rest till autumn
brings :hem and their charges TO the valleys again.
'' The hut of the Alpine shepherd cannot have
changed in 1000 years, for time, however simple
have seen it pore simple than it is now" (The
lady from whom quote had never n Hawaiian
thatch house, al! of one room The shepherds house
consists Of milk room partly underground, for max
ing cheese and buter and sometimes one by its side
for pigs. Above these is the cpmfoTtless sleeping
room. with furniture than log for a bench,
and rough hewn table, if even that.
The butter is unsalted, and the cheese is pale, soft
and oily. Some of the favore brands of cheese are
made of cows and goats milk mixed.
The heTdsmen have five or six preparations from
milk and whey, which furnish the main part of their
food. They not only drink whey, but they wash in
own clothes.
The yodelling--the RAM DIES Vaches of the Alps
is the song of the solitary shepherd invented for com
munication with animals that his life long
pauions. The herds led by the sound Of these
songs well as by the bells Of their leaders. Some
of the large bells weigh five six pounds, told,
but the most are much smaller Many of them in one
herd chime in tuneful chords Probably the shep-
herds select them with that object. They wake sweet
sounds in glade and glen, and suggest the line
~ hear the sheep bell tnsle around the lonely sheng
The queen leader is very proud of her henors, and
sulkily refuses to if she is deprived of her bell
1t is strange by what instinct her authority becomes
by her followers, and the lead of her
bell recognized as law where many wear
ing bells
About the list Oct. the senus begin driving down
the herds for sale in tho valleys below for winter
pasture if not for sale Wee to your expectations of
sleep for the night two during fair time if your
pension be on tho road which the cattle come, or
near meadow where forty fifty of them pas
tured for the time being Tho owners of these town
pastures let them out by the strip and the proprietor
of three four who rents strip of this grass
must stand and watch all night lest his property
der over the line.
SO far must they eat and no farther
There such pasture opposite my window. and
l watched ;he boys making arrangements at dusk,
for spending the night in the pouring rain and felt
sorry for them and ashamed of grumbling in my snug
room, because the bells disturbed my dreams.
The fair day proved in by no means fair |
day. Buyers and sellers and visitors alike shvered
in the rain and waded in mud The place for |
the sale of COWS around large green square.
The animals stood either the street outside Of the
fence or close to it, inside, the green. Groups Of
sellers and cautions buyers, stood bargaining
among the cows, oblivious to rain and mud, peasant
girls hudded under trees to protect the nery they had
put on to wear to town and here and there knots of
tired in rough homespun had sunk upon the
wet grass, regardless of consequences to dress and
health. Some enterprising danes had established
,tOres at corners of the green, and were driving
lively business in the lunch department.
They fried batter in lard, fry doughnuts. and
pile of these fimsy things, with bowl Of weak eof
Zee, seemed to afford much comfort TO rows Of cow
herds, who sat benches nnder the dripping trees
and passed Jokes with the busy cook. She used her
Ougue, her umbrella in hand, and her ladle in
he other, with equal skill.
There were five six hundred COWS al this spot,
making din of confusion with their lowing. The
rsets were full of people leading away their purcha
ert winch Calieu mouEHiuuJ u lic lucy
eft behind In other streets visited the pigs aud
heep and goats, and came to grief in tangle Of
i've goats tied together, aud pulling everyway, and
hought should never get clear Of them. My COM
lauion strobe on ahead. thinking he was making a
,ath way for me, but while stopped to look at pig
got into the pilikia, aud it was comca TO see his
ook of dismay at my predicamcut.
The most snowy part Of the fete the display of
in stalls along the Streets and the lively
art tie dances Of the peasantry in the evening. At
he stalls offered at low rates every sort ofgoods
peasant would need for years use-Warm, stout
rearing apparel, bedding, wooden yarn, shoes, nit
ems combs, household utensils, farming tools, har-
ess, COW and goat bells and collars, writing mate
ias, pipes cheap jewelry. snowy velvet bodces with
liver chains for Swiss belles.-everything but books.
wss peasants have no time for books.
The rain lifted after the fair, and we left In
srlaken and the pleasant family at the Unterseen
ension Anglais- Some of them were Americans who
ave lived many years in Stuttgart, nsghbors to
tends the Pitmans. Mr.-sPoke very pleasant
Of the family, and mentioned the second daughter
bright, handsome young girl, companion oil his
En daughter. H.F.c.
TRAINING sHIPs.-The training ship system Whiek
as lately been angurated by the Navy Department,