in the Vorarlbergy in the Autumn of 1846. 243 



its bed was elevated. Looking at the current itself, one could 

 not have considered it dangerous, either from the mass of 

 vsrater, or from the rapidity of its motion. In almost every 

 part it could be crossed on foot. But the villagers were in a 

 state of great apprehension, and several hundred men, partly 

 soldiers, partly peasants, were actively engaged in various 

 operations. The stream was flowing on the top of a mound 

 of gravel, which, in one place, was 25 feet high. It was 

 banked in by large pine trees freed from their branches, and 

 laid lengthwise. These were supported by thick stems driven 

 into the gravel perpendicularly, and in places were it was ne- 

 cessary, the pine branches formed an interlacing. The chief 

 place of danger seemed to be the cotton-mill, along the gable 

 of which the stream was flowing several feet above the floor. 

 The mill had ceased working for several days, the canal lead- 

 ing the water to the great wheel at the opposite gable having 

 been choked with the gravel brought down by the stream. This 

 had been again and again cleared out, but at length the con- 

 test was abandoned. One or two other houses higher up in 

 the village were also threatened, but all the exertions of the 

 people were directed to the mill. 



I was at Frastanz again on the 11th, and also on the 13th. 

 At the latter date the height of the stream was three feet 

 more than it was on the 6th, a week before. Of course the 

 bridge had been repeatedly raised, and the roadway across 

 it was very uncomfortable from its steepness. By looking 

 narrowly into the stream, it was evident that stones were 

 rolling along. You could follow the course of individual 

 stones ; and what was seen in these individual instances, you 

 were sure was doing in millions of other instances. It was 

 indeed a torrent of gravel and rounded stones, none of which 

 were of less size than a small egg. 



The landslip of gravel, which had caused this remarkable 

 phenomenon, occurred seven miles up the stream. It was 

 presumed to be the consequence of a practice much more 

 common now than formerly, — of cutting down a great many 

 trees together on the steep banks. In the course of time the 

 stump and all its roots decay, and become little channels for 

 the rapid transmission of water. Were only some of the trees 



