534 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



man (unless education and society changes him) 

 much resembles the soil from which he springs. 

 To a certain extent the mountaineer bears the 

 stamp of Nature upon him : for, like the mountain 

 torrent, his movements are quick ; like the sudden 

 changes of the atmosphere in which he dwells, his 

 passions are easily roused; like the oak which 

 shades him, he has a sturdy, bold, and character- 

 istic bearing; like the rock on which he stands, 

 he is true and faithful and makes a firm friend; 

 and the constant presence of danger and peril 

 inures him to the contemplation of death, and 

 renders him fearless and intrepid. 



The Tyrolese are conspicuous for their indepen- 

 dent manner and manly bearing, and notwithstand- 

 ing an absence of all conventional manner, they are 

 friendly and obliging, and we found them ever 

 ready to show courtesy to a stranger. In their 

 memorable struggles for independence, their skill 

 with the rifle, hardy habits, and knowledge of 

 the country, enabled them to baffle overwhelming 

 numbers of disciplined troops commanded by skilful 

 generals. Rifle practice is the chief recreation of 



