; THE FIR TRIBE. 361 



or troiJgh. This trough is usually constructed of six or 

 eight Fir-trees, placed side by side lengthways, so as to form 

 a semicircular channel, made smooth by stripping the bark 

 from the trees. The trees are laid side by side, and end to 

 end, till the slide is of considerable length, having a gradual 

 descent, curving round the shoulders of mountains, span- 

 ning over valleys and yawning ravines by means of 

 viaducts, and even perforating solid rocks by means of 

 tunnels. In the year 1810, when the price of Baltic tim- 

 ber had attained its greatest height, a stupendous, and at 

 the same time successful, effort was made to convey the 

 timber of Mount Pilate to the Lake of Lucerne, whence it 

 might be floated down the Rhine to the sea. Under the 

 superintendence of M. Rupp, a slide was constructed, six 

 feet broad, and from three to six feet deep, and extending 

 to a distance of forty-four thousand feet (eight miles). It 

 was completed in 1812, and twenty-five thousand Pine- 

 trees were employed in its construction. It was called the 

 Slide of Alpnach, from the name of a village near it. The 

 logs were drawn to the trough either by hand-sledges or 

 by oxen, and placed in at the top ; the snow was partially 

 cleared away from the trough, and a few logs were thrown 

 to clear the channel. Water was next poured upon it, 

 which quickly froze, forming a surface of ice through its 

 entire extent. The logs placed on the upper surface of 

 this slippery trough immediately descended, slowly at first, 

 but with almost inconceivable velocity as their momentum 

 increased. When the operations were to begin, workmen 

 were posted at regular distances ; and as soon as everything 

 was ready, the workman at the lower end of the slide 

 cried out to the one above him, " Idchez" (let go). The 

 cry was repeated from one to another, and reached the top 

 of the slide in three minutes. The workman at the top 

 then cried out to the one below him, ^^ilvienf (it comes)- 

 and the tree was instantly launched down the slide, pre- 

 ceded by the cry, which was repeated from post to post 

 As soon as the tree had reached the bottom, and plunwed 

 K 



