AND THE JURA. 35 



small village between two and three leagues from* Lausanne, and pay 

 a visit to a little road-side public-house, where I made an early dinner 

 of ham, bread and cheese, and wine. While I was conning over my 

 map preparatory to these being put on the table, the good landlady 

 paused in her occupation to assist in the examination ; and I regret to 

 say that the map-maker fell grievously under her displeasure, for he 

 had omitted to insert this her birth-place among the villages and 

 towns of Switzerland. It was very amusing to see the earnest but 

 ineffectual search of three or four people who happened to be present, 

 and who left their wine to examine in all parts and in every canton, 

 under the impression that the name of the village (Mex) could not 

 be absolutely omitted, but must have been misplaced. However, 

 after about half an hour they gave it up in despair, and I went on my 

 way, leaving them to digest the disappointment and rail at my map at 

 their leisure. I dare say it formed the subject of conversation for. 

 many a day, until some election of a deputy, or unfavourable news 

 from France, gave a new turn to their curious enquiries. 



The country continues pretty well cultivated and rather tame for 

 some miles, until at a sudden turn, and crossing a small river, we 

 come in sight of the town of Cossonex, which I have already alluded 

 to as placed on a ridge of highish sand hills parallel with the Jura 

 chain. The first view of this place, its pretty spire, and one or two 

 houses showing themselves from amidst a mass of trees which crown 

 the summit of the ridge, is very picturesque and striking. 



The ascent is sudden, and seems almost precipitous for perhaps a 

 couple of hundred feet ; but it is probably owing entirely to the irre- 

 gular action of water wearing away, on one side, the almost incohe- 

 rent sand of which this and most of the hills of the middle of Swit- 

 zerland are formed. 



The town of Cossonex is not remarkable, nor is the road between 

 it and Cuarnens. After leaving the latter place, however, we come 

 within sight of Mont Tendre, one of the highest of the Jura moun- 

 tains, and before long begin to ascend the rather steep sides of the 

 pass between that mountain and the Dent de Vaution^ which forms 

 the northern, as Mont Tendre does the eastern, limit of the Lac de 

 Joux. It was not till two hours after leaving Cuarnens that I 

 reached the highest part of the pass ; but the walk, though long and 

 rather laborious, amply repaid me in the number of beautiful views 

 across the great valley, which seemed to increase in richness and 

 luxuriance as I gradually became more and more elevated above the 

 surrounding country. It was interesting to see the distant snowy 



