FROM PAKIS TO FRANKFORT ON THE MAINE. 57 



and Arpad. Wc men rode mules, whicb, in my estimation, ■were 

 not as good as the donkeys, inasmuch as these, with the ladies, 

 were always ahead of us, and it was only with the continual exer- 

 tion of our heels and the application of the driver's stick that we 

 could catch up with them. 



Our drive was toward a valley called the " Valley of the Swiss." 

 The road ascends to the top of a well-timbered mountain, and then 

 descends into the above-mentioned valley. On the side of the hill, 

 before descending into the Swiss valley, is the family vault of 

 Count Stein, minister of the King of Prussia, and a celebrity of 

 the time of Napoleon the First. This vault, which also holds sev- 

 eral members of the family, is of stone, and is a building of simple 

 construction. It is surrounded by a small garden containing sev- 

 eral pine-trees, and which itself is encircled by a stone wall. A 

 woman came and opened, first, the gate of the wall, and then the 

 iron door of the vault. After we had seen all that was to be seen, 

 which was a couple of sculptures and as many inscriptions, we left 

 the resting-place of the dead, and wound our way down the nar- 

 row path into the valley. 



The path was so steep and so narrow that we were obliged to 

 dismount and descend on foot. On our way down we passed 

 several small grist-mills, whose working force was given by a 

 small stream. The water runs along in a ditch, and is brought 

 in a wooden trough, one foot wide and about six inches deep, 

 over a bucket- wheel. I examined one of these wheels : it was 

 twenty-eight feet high and one foot wide ; its bucket holds about 

 a gallon and a half of water. The water running was but one 

 and a half inch deep and twelve inches wide. The stones and 

 inside arrangements are all very primitive. As for the construc- 

 tion of the wheel, round the axle is built a cog-wheel, the cogs 

 being on the side, and turning a small spindle with seven hori- 

 zontal rods, this spindle, in its turn, turning the stone. Much 

 improvement might be made in the stone and all the other ar- 

 rangements. I was informed by the miller that he makes about 

 ten bushels a day. The flour is bad, and would not be market- 

 able with us. 



"We passed several silver mines; they are being worked with 

 good advantage to the proprietors. I intend to visit at least one 

 of the smelting establishments. Perhaps they contain some new 

 improvements by which Washoe might derive some benefit. 



We at last arrived home, much pleased with our donkey-ride, 



