MY FIRST VISIT TO THE ENGiiDINE. O 



just before reaching the summit a little Orchis, of a dull 

 purple, and with an exquisite scent like chocolate, greeted 

 me on behalf of the Alpine Flora. 



The descent fi-om the summit of the Juher soon brought 

 us in sight of the Engadine ; almost beneath us lay Silva- 

 plana, on the banks of the lake of Silvaplana, and the snowy- 

 peaks of the Bernina range formed an imposing back-ground 

 to the opposite side of the valley ; lower down in the plain 

 we perceived the ugly buildings connected with the baths of 

 St. Moritz, the village of St. Moritz being far more pic- 

 turesquely situated on a little eminence on the northern side 

 of the valley, and overlooking the lake of St. Moritz. The 

 diligence pursued its "way down the valley, through Celerina 

 to Samaden, where we arrived about thirteen hours after 

 starting from Chur. 



Here we hastened to the Hotel Bernina, and ordered a 

 vehicle to convey us to Pontresina ; whilst waiting for this, 

 w^e discussed some coffee with excellent cream, and some 

 most delicious cakes. Hunger and thirst satisfied, we feasted 

 our eyes on the snowy peaks in view from the window, till 

 our landlady assured us that from a balcony at the other end 

 of the hotel the view was far finer. Here, indeed, we had a 

 rich treat looking up the valley, with the towering peak of 

 Piz Palu all in white (12,835 feet high) just opposite to us. 

 It was whilst engaged in feasting our eyes on this scene that 

 we were agreeably surprised to be accosted by Professor 

 Hering, of Stettin, who had seen us on the balcony from 

 below, and had hastened to be the first to greet us on our 

 arrival in the Engadine. From him we learnt that Pro- 

 fessor Frey, of Ziirich, had left the previous day, that Dr. 

 Staudinger and Herr von Heinemann were staying at 

 Pontresina, and that Dr. Herrich-Schafier was expected. 



B 2 



