VII 



THE rYlJEXEAX IBEX 



Tfik range ol' lln^ r\"i'eiR'cs on its Sjiaiiisli side slopes 

 rapidly to the lowlands, but its soft limestone lias been 

 cut ami carvoil in strange fasliion. S(~inio of Hk^ ti'onclies 

 thus formed are of extraordinary d('[)tli and steepness. 

 I have heard the xallcy with which f am most Jaiuiliar, 

 described ;is itcing narrower al the lo|» than at the 

 bottom. C^M*tainl\' for depth and steepness it has no ri\al 

 with which 1 am ac( |uaiiile(|. To heigliten the contrast, 

 the \alley widens in one plact' into a small le\el and park- 

 like ])lain of grass, dotted with gi-eat s])i-(\ading beeclu^s 

 whose stems ot" sil^■(■|■\■ hark are llcc]<cd with ncIxcI pat (dies 

 of ilai'k u'reiii moss. AN here tlie soil has li'athered. tall 

 spruces colli i'a>t nobl\- with the loH',;- I'mnt of \cllow clitl 

 which towers above. A ilcn>c undergrowth of serubbv 

 bee<-li and of l)o\ hushes ten feet higli. co\crs tli(> slo[)es. 

 I idiappiK' the big beeelies are 'jradualK' di-a|i|)eai'ina" 

 before man. t he great de\i)urei-. ami iiohle sj)ars of lii's whiidi 

 have been felled, but ne^'ei- remo\ed. ciimbci' the paths of 

 tlie forest, win le r\r]\ tlie liumble box isciit iiilo leiietlis to 

 make wooden spoons whiidi are .-old fir a farthing apiece. 



