30 Earth Pyramids of the Austrian Tyrol. [Sess. 



in the Austrian Tyrol. Having made inquiries as to their 

 whereabouts, I determined to have them photographed sooner 

 or later. I had for some time meditated a Continental trip, 

 and as 1890 was the year of the passion-play at Oberam- 

 mergau, I decided to see the play and extend my tour in 

 order to procure some pictures of the earth pillars. Accord- 

 ingly, when the month of June came round I started for my 

 holiday vid Paris and Zurich, en route for Innsbruck. 



It is not my intention to go into details regarding my 

 journey, but I cannot refrain from mentioning the Brenner 

 Pass, between Innsbruck and Botzen. It is the lowest pass 

 over the Alps from Germany into Italy. The railway was 

 opened in 1867, and, in the words of Baedeker, "it is one of 

 the grandest works of its kind." The steepest gradient is 1 

 in 40, and in other places is 1 in 44. At certain places near 

 Gossensass one could almost drop a stone on the next station 

 several hundred feet below. 



Botzen is pleasantly situated on the confluence of two 

 rivers — viz., the Eisack and the Talfer ; and, standing at an 

 elevation of 8 8 feet above sea-level, is a town of considerable 

 importance, with a population of about 11,000 inhabitants. 

 It was the chief depot of traffic between Venice and the 

 north, and is a capital centre for various excursions round 

 about, especially for that wonderful country of the dolomites 

 which I hope to visit at some future period. On the evening 

 after my arrival at Botzen I had the good fortune to see the 

 sun setting on the Bosengarten. This is a sight which must 

 be seen to be appreciated, and cannot be adequately described. 

 During the night a shower of snow fell, and in the morning 

 the view from my bedroom window was lovely in the extreme, 

 the red colour of the ferruginous rocks contrasting brilliantly 

 with the virgin whiteness of the untrodden snow. 



After making inquiries as to where the best group of the 

 earth pillars was to be obtained, and getting several routes 

 described to me, I fixed upon the Bitten. When the morn- 

 ing arrived for my climb up the Bitten, the weather was all 

 that could be desired ; so, having made a good breakfast, 

 I strapped on my knapsack containing the camera, &c, and 

 besides a changing box, the former weighing 18 lb. and 

 the latter 9 lb. I also took my aneroid barometer and 



