BERN. 



477 



Bern. for the copiousness and medicinal virtue of its hot 

 "~v~- ' springs. 



The frontier* of Oberland, on the south, present 

 a chain of glaciers and snow-clad summits. Here, 

 an elevated valley, extending between two of the 

 loftiest ridges of the Alps, to the length of ten or 

 twelve leagues, is iilled by one unbroken mass of ice. 

 Another chain of Alps, likewise intersected by gla- 

 ciers, forms, on the north of the valley of Hassle, 

 the frontiers of the cantons of Uri and Underwalden. 



The province of Emmethal extends from Thun 

 along the frontiers of Underwalden and Lucern. It 

 is pervaded by broken chains of mountains and hills, 

 which lower gradually towards the Aargau. The 

 most elevated summits of these mountains are cover- 

 ed with wood, or with excellent summer pasturage ; 

 the sides which are well exposed to the sun are culti- 

 vated to a very great height, while the vallies present 

 the picture of a rich and exquisite culture. No 

 where do the peasantry enjoy more easy circum- 

 stances, and more real advantages, than in Emme- 

 thal. Besides the abundant productions of its soil, 

 this province is enriched by its manufactures of cloth 

 and ribbands ; and affords a striking and instructive 

 proof of the advantages resulting from the union of 

 the arts of industry with agriculture, the first and 

 most essential of all. 



Between the Emmethal and the canton of Soleure 

 lies the upper Aargau, an open country, abound- 

 ing in rich meadows and fertile fields. The bail- 

 liage of Aarbourg separates the Upper from the 

 Lower Aargau. Here the territory of Bern is con- 

 tracted by the cantons of Lucern and Soleure to 

 the breadth of half a league. To such perfection is 

 the system of irrigation here carried, that the best 

 meadows are valued at upwards of 5000 French livres 

 an acre. The four counties of Aarberg, Erlach, 

 Nidau, and Baren, form a district which extends 

 from the lower extremity of Neufchatel Lake to the 

 canton of Soleure. The soil of this district is in ge- 

 neral fertile and well cultivated. This country reaches 

 to the foot of Mount Jura, and borders on the bi- 

 shopric of Basle. 



The Pays de Vaud, chiefly wrested by conquest 

 from the Dukes of Savoy, is the most extensive pro- 

 vince in the canton of Bern, ai>d is one of the most 

 delightful and abundant countries in Swisserland. 

 In the vicinity of the lake of Murat, the climate 

 is mild, and the soil luxuriant. Vines, tobacco, and 

 maize, are cultivated there with the greatest suc- 

 cess ; orchards, stocked with every species of fruit 

 trees, are bowed down to the ground by the weight 

 of their fruit ; and the meadows are covered with 

 the richest and most beautiful pastures. The bail- 

 liages of Moudon, Oron, and part of Lausanne, 

 stretch into Little Jura, separated from the Great 

 Jura by the Gros de Vaud. This district is moun- 

 tain!. us, and less productive than the Pays de Vaud ; 

 yet, except in the more elevated parts, it produces 

 considerable quantities of grain. 



In going from Moudon .o Lausanne, it is necessa- 

 ry to crot.3 a mountain ; on descending the opposite 

 side of which, the lake of Geneva opens full on the 

 view. Thi3 magnificent reservoir of water forms, on 

 its northern bank, a curve of about fifteen leagues. 

 The greater part of this district resembles the pro- 



vince of Oberland ; but its lower region, washed by 

 the Rhone from the confines of Valais, enjoys a warm- 

 er climate than any other part of the whole canton. 

 At Bevieux, (See Bevieux,) in this government, 

 are the only salt springs to be met with in the coun- 

 try of Swisserland. 



Proceeding along the border of the lake, we come 

 next to Vevay, a handsome and flourishing town, sur- 

 rounded by vineyards, behind which the country as- 

 cends, and is adorned with fields of corn, and covered 

 with verdant pastures. Between Vevay and Lausanne 

 are the four parishes of the Pa^s de la Vaud, the wine3 

 of which are in great request. The country above 

 Lausanne, which is the second town in the canton, is 

 mountainous, bleak, and uninteresting; but below 

 the town, and opposite to the bailliage of Morges, 

 the scenery is enchanting. Vineyards, meadows, and 

 corn fields, indicate a genial soil ; while these native 

 beauties, aiding the picturesque illusion which dif- 

 ferent points of view produce on these charming 

 banks, present the appearance of one vast continued 

 garden. On approaching Morges, the climate still 

 improves. That beautiful town stands at the bot- 

 tom of a small gulf, where the lake of Geneva ex- 

 pands to its greatest breadth. The interior of this 

 district is in general fruitful in grain, and extensive 

 vineyards of the finest quality enrich and beautify 

 the coast. The bailliages of Nyon, of Romainmo- 

 tier, and Yverdon, complete the topography of this 

 canton ; but, as they are marked by no very pecu- 

 liar feature, they scarcely deserve to be separately de- 

 scribed. 



If the different provinces of Bern vary in appear- 

 ance, in soil, and in climate, there is an equally per- 

 ceptible difference in the genius, the manners, and 

 disposition of the inhabitants. The mountaineers of 

 Oberland, the peasants in the environs of the capital, 

 or in the province of Emmethal, the inhabitants of 

 Aargau, and those of the four counties, are so many 

 distinct nations, easily recognised by their language, 

 their dress, and their manners. But the most stri- 

 king difference takes place between the inhabitants 

 of the German district, and those of the Pays de 

 Vaud. The former are grave, cool, and contempla- 

 tive ; fond of their country, with which they are at the 

 same time proud of being connected ; dull in their 

 pleasures, slow in their operations, but regular and 

 systematic in all their conduct. No acquisition of 

 wealth could ever excite in the breast of a peasant 

 of this country the smallest ambition to connect him- 

 self with a noble family, nor would he even allow his 

 children to intermarry with the citizens. He courts 

 no office of power; he never voluntary leaves his 

 country ; and when necessity has forced him from it, 

 different habits and modes of life generally excite 

 such a regret for his native land, as becomes, espe- 

 cially among the mountaineers, a malady often fatal. 

 The women of this nation are industrious, punctual 

 in all affairs of household economy, assiduous in the 

 cultivation of their gardens, in spinning, and in the 

 other proper occupations of their sex. 



The people of the Pays de Vaud are in general 

 gayer, and more polished ; possessed of a livelier ima- 

 gination, pliant in their character, working with more 

 arduur than constancy, giddy, improvident, and fond 

 of emigration. The women who have not been im- 



Eerji. 



