256 FIRST JOURNEY IN EUROPE. [1839, 



At the Jungfrau hotel, a mere chalet on the side 

 of the Wengern Alp, we were close under that mag- 

 nificent mountain, separated only by a narrow gorge, 

 and elevated just enough to have the most perfect 

 view from base to summit. We had heard the day 

 previous the crash and roar of falling avalanches on 

 the other side of the Wetterhorn, and I was very 

 anxious to see one ; before long I saw two, one of 

 them a pretty good one, come tumbling and roaring 

 down the Jungfrau. Soon a thick cloud came and 

 enveloped these mountains, so that I departed earlier 

 than I should have done ; it threatened to rain ; and 

 we descended into the valley of Lauterbrunnen, which 

 is very deep and narrow, and had on the way a fine 

 view of the valley and the mountains and glaciers that 

 close its upper extremity. Saw the celebrated fall of 

 the Staubbach, and was disappointed in it. ... 



Walked rapidly down the valley of Lauterbrunnen 

 to the lake of Brienz, turning aside so as not to pass 

 through Interlaken, which is a little British colony; 

 took a boat to the opposite end of the lake (eight 

 miles) ; had a heavy shower and much wind ; saw the 

 falls of Giessbach from the lake, seven very fine cas- 

 cades one above the other. Landed at Brienz ; took 

 a char up to Meyringen again, looking at the beauti- 

 ful waterfalls from each side of the valley, now very 

 full from the rains. Arrived at my own lodgings at 

 five o'clock, having accomplished in the twelve hours 

 fifty miles, of which thirty -two were traveled on 

 foot. 



Saturday, 29th, rose in good condition, breakfasted, 

 and parted with my thoroughly Swiss landlady at five 

 o'clock ; went up the vale of Hassli, one of the finest 

 in Switzerland, for the Grimsel, perhaps the wildest 



