ET. 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 
