298 PROC. COTTESWOLD CLUB vol. xiii. (4) 



the present hour, their strength hes perhaps in their very 

 weakness : or perhaps it may be found in the protection 

 of their mountains : or perhaps in their possessing between 

 France and Spain a territory not worth the fighting of a 

 war. They pay an annual tribute of ^40 to France, and 

 another of a smaller sum to the Spanish bishop of Urgel. 

 They are ruled on democratic principles, each of their six 

 parishes returning four members to the Andorran Chamber. 

 The head of the Chamber is the first Syndic or President 

 of the Repubhc, the executive power being wielded by 

 officials known as Viguiers. 



To reach Hospitalet — the village at which I intended 

 to spend the night before crossing the Pyrenees into 

 Andorra — involved a lonely walk of twelve miles from 

 the railway terminus of Ax-les-Thermes. The road thither 

 led up an immense mountain valley, in which, at a lonely 

 turn, I overtook a French priest. He was bound for 

 Merens, a village three miles further on : and the thought 

 of an hour's mutual company pleased us both. 



We reached Merens just before sunset ; and when my 

 fellow-traveller off"ered me hospitality at his rural dwell- 

 ing, I accepted, and enjoyed a meal with him. My host 

 hoped I would stop the night ; but my object was to reach 

 Hospitalet that evening, and to cross the mountains into 

 Andorra the next day. 



Darkness was coming on, and the httle village of Hos- 

 pitalet was still some miles away. As I trudged on, the 

 road got worse. However, towards nine o'clock some 

 straggling lights shone down the valley, and a little later I 

 crossed the quiet cobbles of Hospitalet and found the 

 village inn. I tumbled up some wooden stairs, and having 

 met the landlady, was welcomed with a warmth that made 

 up for the deficiencies of the establishment. Having 

 satisfied my hostess with an epitome of my programme, 

 she asked how I proposed to reach Andorra. I told her 



