of winter, they return with the cattle and the stock of cheese that has been made in the mountains.

The following extract from M. Simond's "Travels in Switzerland," describes one of these mountain châlets; but those in the higher mountains are far more dreary, and possess even less of comfort and convenience:

"The higher ridge of the Scheideck, when we passed it, was crowded with cattle. assembled there for miles to avoid the flies, which in more sheltered situations torment them during the heat of the day. The natural process by which soil is made was everywhere observable on the Eselsrücken (Ass's Back), where the uncovered edge of the slate is so far decomposed by exposure to weather, that large fragments, apparently sound, crumbled into black dust under our feet. This dust, fertilized by the cattle, is in some places covered with grass; in others it is washed away to lower grounds, leaving the surface of the slate again exposed to the weather, to be further decomposed.

"Some way beyond this ridge we came to a châlet, which, being occupied by the shepherds, afforded more conveniences than our halt of yesterday. Here a fire was already blazing in a sort of pit or trench dug around by way of a seat, and a huge kettle hung over for the purpose of cheese-making. We had plenty of cream furnished us, in which the spoon literally stood on end, a kettle to make coffee, and wooden ladles by way of cups. All the utensils were made of maple, of linden, and of a sort of odorous pine (penus cembra), by the shepherds themselves, who bestow much time on this manufacture. We noticed the portable seat with a single leg, oddly strapped to the back of those who milk the cows; the milk-pails, the milk-hod fastened to their shoulders, the measures, the ladles made in the shape of shells, the milkstrainer (a tripod funnel full of pine leaves), the vase in which rennet (used to coagulate milk) is preserved, the press, the form, and many other implements of their trade, all elegantly shaped, and very clean.

"The châlet itself was an American log-house of the rudest construction; the roof, composed of clumsy shingles, gave vent to the smoke in the absence of a chimney; this roof, projecting eight or ten feet, formed a sort of piazza, called the melkgang, a German word, which, like many others in that language, needs no English translation.

"The bedroom of the shepherds in these summer châlets is a wooden gallery, hung up over the melkgang, close to the projecting roof; they go up to it by a ladder, and all herd together on a little straw, never changed. The cows come home to be milked, attracted from the most distant pastures by a handful of salt, which the shepherd draws out of a leathern pouch hanging across his shoulder. The ground round the châlet is so broken, poached, and made filthy by treading of cattle, that without stepping-stones it would be difficult to reach the door; to finish the picture, a herd of swine ranges about, waiting for the allotted portion of buttermilk and curds."

All this is, no doubt, very different from Rousseau's charming description of a châlet; but the châlets about Heloise's residence were family dwellings, inhabited the whole year round, and such as are found on lower mountains only; they are kept perfectly clean and comfortable, and are in all respects different from those on the high Alps, constructed for mere temporary shelters during a few months: no women live in the latter. The engraving on the opposite page gives a view of the interior of a Tyrolese peasant's family abode.

When the weather is tempestuous, the shepherds, or rather the herdsmen, are up all night in the mountains with their cattle, calling to them, as without this precaution they might take fright, run into dangers, and be lost. A few places of shelter, built of logs on the principal pastures, would, it seems, answer the purpose better with less trouble. The cattle look very beautiful and active, full of spirit and wild sport; they show much more curiosity and intelligence than the rest of their kind, and often follow travellers from rocks to rocks a long while, merely to observe them. Bulls, notwithstanding the fierceness of their looks, never attack anybody. Mr. Ramond, in his notes on Coxe's travels, tells an interesting story concerning these animals, which, if it should happen not to be quite true, at least deserves to be so. Speaking of their antipathy for bears-" It is impossible," he says, " to restrain a bull when he scents a bear in the neighborhood; he comes up to him, and a running fight begins, which often lasts for several days, and till one of the two is killed. In a plain the bear has the advantage; among rocks and trees the bull. (I should have

thought just the reverse.) Once, in the Canton of Uri, a bull went in pursuit of a bear, and did not return; after searching for him three successive days, he was found motionless, squeezing against a rock his enemy, which had been long dead, was quite stiff and cold, and almost crushed to pieces by the pressure; such had been the efforts of the bull, that his feet were deep sunk into the ground.”

The Tyrol is one of the least travelled countries of Europe. Wealth alone does not suffice, and can not command, a survey of its beauties. The pedestrian will see more and enjoy more than he who travels en courier. Picturesque beauty of scenery ; primitive, simple, and strongly-defined manners; these are the great charms for the tourist in the Tyrol. One of the most picturesque of its valleys is represented in our engraving. This valley forms a channel for the river Non, a tributary of the Adige. Though distinguished by two different names, the valley is one and the same throughout, the upper part being the Val di Sole, and the lower part the Val di Non. The scenery is at once grand and striking, and the valley is said to resemble a chain of mountains and ravines rather than a valley; but the landscape does not want interesting objects, castles, villages, and vineyards. It is the resort of many of the inhabitants of Trent, who have erected houses to which they retire in the summer. The paths leading to it are not practicable at all seasons. Cles, on the right bank of the Non, is a small and insignificant village, where silkworms are reared and a silk manufactory is carried on.

The agriculture of the Tyrol does not demand the same laborious pains-taking and solicitude as that of Switzerland. The soil is more fruitful. Perseverance and industry are proportionally relaxed, as if man needed to be goaded on by an everpressing necessity. The peasant generally owns the soil which he cultivates. The system of spade-husbandry, everywhere practised, at once indicates the absence of large farms. In some districts the metayer system is in operation. The production of wheat does not suffice for the actual consumption of the country, and a supply is obtained from Trieste and the neighborhood. An immense quantity of fruit is produced. The cherries are sometimes as large as a small apricot. The walnuts, which grow by the roadside, are also abundant and remarkably fine. The great resource of the cultivator is the crop of Indian corn, which is more depended upon than that of wheat. Bread is made of Indian corn and wheat mixed, not as a matter of economy but of taste. A peasant proprietor who owns about four acres of tolerable land will maintain himself in a simple but comfortable manner. One third of this quantity of land will be devoted to the growth of Indian corn; half an acre to barley; rather more than an acre to grass for the cow, and wood for fuel; and there will be a garden of a quarter of an acre for cabbages, potatoes, salads, and fruit-trees. The wheat is not all consumed; the surplus is exchanged for coffee, and a few luxuries. A number of hens are kept, and the eggs are sold at the neighboring market. Pigs are fed, and supply the family with flesh meat. The labors of such a farm will not require more than two persons, father and son. The wife and daughters spin and make the greatest part of the family clothing. The diet of a respectable peasant owning about four acres is good and wholesome. Mr. Inglis has compared with this the condition of a small freeholder in England cultivating twelve acres with his own hands, and finds the Tyrolese peasant with four acres is in much more comfortable circumstances. He ascribes the advantage to the culture and use of Indian corn by the latter: "It is eaten three times a day by all the members of the same family in the shape of soup, with milk; and is the bread of the family besides. And with a sufficiency of bacon and vegetables, and fresh meat two or three days in the fortnight, the Tyrolean peasant family may be said to live comfortable. Coffee is considered a luxury, and is only used occasionally." If the same quantity of land were cultivated with wheat, the produce would not support an equal number of persons. Perhaps the difference in the circumstances of a small cultivator in the Tyrol and in England may be traced to another cause. In the Tyrol all the cultivators are of one class, and one individual has the same chance as another; but in England there are cultivators on a large scale, who are able to apply to the soil capital and skill with greater advantage and economy than the small proprietor; and hence the cost of production is less, on a given quantity of produce, to the large than to the small proprietor; but as both must submit to the same prices in the market, the surplus of the smaller proprietor is relatively less.

It is evident from the circumstances in which the agriculture of the country is placed that the Tyrol must send forth its redundant population. The silk manu

facture and other branches of industry are not sufficiently extensive to employ increasing numbers; and though the transit of goods between Italy and Germany employs a considerable number of individuals, yet it does not increase to such a degree as to render necessary any large and sudden addition to the number of those who are engaged in it. Hence constant migration and emigration are necessary for the welfare and happiness of the country. It is said that between 30,000 and 40,000 Tyrolese every year leave their country in search of employment. Some merely go into the neighboring countries for a certain number of months in each year; but others proceed to distant lands, and accumulate a little fortune as pedlars. Some of them are to be found wandering around the United States of America; but deriving more emolument, however, from the exercise of their musical talent than from any other resource. When their great purpose is accomplished, they never fail to return to their own country; and perhaps in their native valley enjoy the wellearned fruits of their industry. There is something pleasing in this attachment, which carries a man steadfastly through difficulties, and after some few years brings him to the desired object of his wishes.

The Tyrol being one of the most exclusively mountainous countries in Europe, containing a smaller relative proportion of open country than Switzerland, it has had a great effect upon the character and political fortunes of the inhabitants. The Swiss, like them, are mountaineers, but do not possess their noble characteristics; because Switzerland is less impregnable, and is cut up into small divisions, in which a highlywrought spirit of patriotism, the great source of Tyrolese character, can not be so intensely felt. The Tyrolese have presented a spirit of independence though a long series of years, for which they are entirely indebted to their geographical position, which prevents the approach of conquerors; a handful of men being able to defend some of the most important mountain passes against a whole army. The Tyrol is an important bulwark of Austria, and the inhabitants may be regarded invaluable as a garrison. They are admirably adapted for mountain warfare, but they do not make good soldiers, the military discipline being especially irksome to them. They can never be so usefully employed as in their own country, and hence it was the policy of Austria to exempt them from many of the rigors of the conscription, and to employ them in their own country. Altogether there is more liberty enjoyed in the Tyrol than in any other part of the Austrian dominions. Innovation has made less progress than in any other country. There are no protestants, but all continue in the religion of their forefathers. Their patriotism, which is in the first place a consequence of their mountain independence, is the preservation of old manners and customs. It is only on the frontiers that the true Tyrolese habits have been altered. In the neighborhood of Trent, the peasantry are no longer distinguished for the fine and noble aspect which characterizes those of the centre and the obscure lateral valleys of the Adige and the Inn.