and tlie Pyrenees^ in ^S%6. / 73 



an elbow of the Rhone. The beauty of the landscape continues 

 to Tain, immediately below which, on the left hand, is the Her- 

 mitage, famous for Jljie wine of that name. Opposite to Tain, 

 on the other side of the river, is the pretty village, or rather 

 town, of Tournon. Formerly the only communication between 

 these two was by a boat pulled across in a manner somewhat si- 

 milar to what I have seen in Scotland : A rope is suspended be- 

 tween the two abutments as a guide, while a small rope attached 

 to the boat slides, by means of a ring on the larger, to prevent 

 the bark being swept away by the force of the stream. In 

 Scotland, I believe, they generally push over the boat by rest- 

 ing the hands on the guide-rope ; while at the Bac de Tain, 

 and other Bacs or ferries in this part of France, they have a 

 small contrivance to pull it over. There is now so great a com- 

 munication between the towns of Tain and Tournon, that a 

 handsome chain-bridge has been commenced, and is expected 

 to be finished in the course of the season *. 



" We now proceeded towards the river Isere. The Hiron- 

 delle diligences are the chief ones opposed to those of the Mes- 

 sageries Royales in France. There is one between Paris and 

 Lyons, and a corresponding one between Lyons and Marseilles. 

 This last left Lyons an hour before our dihgence the Paresseux ; 

 but by stopping shorter time at breakfast, and by overdriving, 

 we had made up to our antagonist at Tain. As the first ar- 

 rived at the ferry or Bac dTsere must get first over, we had a 

 competition, for the first time I ever saw such a thing in France : 

 still the Swallow kept a-head, and never gave us an opportuni- 

 ty to lay salt on its tail ; but, driving near the pier, their pos- 

 tilion thought that we would not attempt any farther struggle, 

 and stopped ; but he reckoned wrong, for^ at the instant, we 

 doubled our pace, and in a second drew up before the other, 

 leaving him to launch against us not a few of those tremendous 

 oaths with which the mouth of a French postboy is peculiarly 

 well stored. I was rascal enough myself to enjoy the fun, and 

 even tipped the postilion a piece of silver for his good deeds, 

 and promising another should he prevent the Swallow flying 

 past .us." 



* This bridge was nearly completed when I returned this Avay on the 19tU 

 September. 



