*:T. 28.] JOURNAL. 243 



it to the shoulders of a stout fellow, for it began to 

 grow weighty. The poor fellow I think earned the 

 ten batz he demanded (about thirty cents), though he 

 did not seem to mind it much. The first third of the 

 ascent the path is formed of steps like a staircase, and 

 is very fatiguing. After we meet the road for mules 

 or horses, which ascends from Goldau, it is not so dif- 

 ficult. Both in the ascent and from the summit, I had 

 a full view of the vestiges of the awful landslip of the 

 Rossberg ; the vacant space of the mountain occupied 

 by the portion that fell and the scarred surface of the 

 path are most distinctly in view, and at the bottom of 

 the valley lies the huge and unsightly and confused 

 mass of rubbish which overwhelmed and buried the 

 three villages of Goldau, Bussingen, and Rothen. 

 This catastrophe took place in September, 1806. 

 Several hundred houses and other buildings were de- 

 stroyed; cattle in great number, and four hundred 

 and fifty human beings perished. . . . 



But time is becoming precious, and I must tell you 

 in a few words of the view from the summit of the Rigi, 

 though description is wholly out of the question. The 

 view from the Kulm, or peak, owes its great beauty 

 and extent, not so much to the height of the mountain, 

 which is only 5676 feet, as to its isolation, giving a 

 clear view in every direction. It is also easy of access ; 

 ladies and persons who do not care to walk can ride 

 up on horses or mules, by either side of the mountain. 

 So there are great crowds here all the summer. . . . 



I was called in the morning at half past three to as- 

 cend the peak and watch the effect of sunrise upon the 

 Alps and valleys. The morning proved quite favor- 

 able, though a little cloudy. The mountains, lakes, and 

 valleys were all distinct, but looked cold. At length 



