258 GERMANY. 



some parts the mountains have been hollowed out by miners to such an extent, 

 that the " underground forest of struts is more extensive than the living forest 

 still growing on the hillsides." The mines have given birth to large villages and 

 towns, at an elevation which, under other circumstances, would have but few 

 inhabitants. If Lombardy offers the finest example of a system of irrigation, the 

 Harz presents us with an instance of the thorough utilisation of water as a motive 

 power, not a drop of the force gratuitously furnished by nature being allowed to run 

 to waste. Relatively the mining industry of the Harz is less important than it used 

 to be, although 100,000 tons of ore are still raised every year. Many of the mines 

 have been invaded by underground water ; but the ever-increasing number of 

 tourists who annually visit the Harz, to breathe its pure air and contemplate from 

 its summits the vast plain stretching thence to the North Sea, affords some com- 

 pensation to the inhabitants. 



The legends of the Harz form a fertile source whence German poets draw their 

 inspirations. Goethe has made good use of them in his version of Faust. The hills 

 to the south of the Harz and the " Golden Meadow " are equally rich in legends. 

 One of them is connected with the Kijfhàuser (2,430 feet), a granitic peak with a 

 ruined castle. The merchants who formerly visited the fairs of Leipzig looked 

 upon the Kyffhauser as a Cape of Good Hope, for on approaching the Emperor's 

 castle they were secure from pillage by robber knights. But the Emperor no 

 longer protects the traveller. Seated at a marble table in a dark cavern of the 

 mountain, he slumbers, to awake only on the day of Germany's resurrection. 

 Thuringia is, indeed, a land of legends, which attach themselves to every spring, 

 rock, sti-eam, cavern, or ruined castle ; nay, even to the clouds and the wind. It is 

 there that the " Wild Hunt " may still be seen on dark and stormy nights. 



Inhabitants. 



The Sorabian Slavs penetrated as far as this part of Germany. In Saxe- 

 Altenburg they still live apart, and although they no longer speak their native 

 language, they diifer from the other inhabitants by their dress and customs. Like 

 most of their kinsmen, they are fond of shining buttons, loose trousers, and heavy 

 boots. The women wear close-fitting black caps, confining the tresses ; long 

 ribbons descending over the back ; vests with speckled sleeves ; and very short 

 petticoats, hardly reaching the knees. In accordance with an ancient custom, 

 property amongst them descends to the youngest son, and the older brothers often 

 stay with him as his servants. The Germans frequently accuse the Sorabians of 

 being too fond of money and good cheer, but we fancy that these latter might 

 successfully retort. 



The Thuringians who inhabit the northern slopes of the Thuringian Forest 

 and the country as far as the Harz are one of the most purely German tribes of 

 Germany. Inhabiting one of the wealthiest countries of Germany, they are 

 said to excel their fellow-countrymen in gaiety of spirit, love of music, and 



