A General Migration. 199 



human migrants stood for a few minutes in prayer, 

 doubtless thanking God for the provision He had 

 made for them and their cattle, and asking for a 

 blessing on the pasture for the summers yet to 

 come. Then all these Catholics of Uri streamed 

 downwards with their cows in long procession, the 

 head ' Senner ' walking in front followed by one 

 fine animal ; and to-day the pasture is as still and 

 desolate as it will be all the coming winter. Even 

 the very stream that washes it will be less voice- 

 ful, when the first frosts have bound once more 

 the snow that feeds and fills it through all the 

 warm season. It was indeed most curious and 

 interesting to find man, beast, and bird all leaving 

 it on the same day. 



On arriving at Wasen, being still alarmed lest 

 I should be too late to see much on this side of 

 the great double barrier for it now became 

 evident that the birds were taking advantage of 

 the last fine weather I had half a mind to go 

 through the tunnel to Airolo, and catch them on 

 the southern side. My second thoughts, how- 

 ever, were in this expedition unusually lucky, and 

 I fortunately decided to stay for a night or two at 



