DEPARTMENT OF THE PYRENEES. 305 



"Its thickness is i metres, its height 14 metres, its length at the middle 

 28 metres — in all 1568 cubic mfetres. 



" Encased, in the base and the two sides, in the calcareous rooks, in which 

 by mining there was dug a deep groove, it is protected against undermining, 

 so much to be feared for works of this kind. It is composed exclusively of 

 large blocks of granite, laid in successive courses without any mortar, but 

 dressed and put in their places with minute care. Its form, slightly convex, 

 gives it more solidity to withstand the shocks and the pressure of the earth 

 coming from above. In fine, they have dug or left large open sluices for 

 the flow of the water. 



" A similar harrage, known as No. 5, has been begun in 1869 ; it may be 

 completed next year [1871] ; and it will complete the system of defence for 

 the imperial road and neighbouring properties. 



" When the Kieulet is in movement, the mass of its dejection is divided 

 and retained by the harracjes ; the water and the sand alone escape by the 

 open sluices; the solid materials heap themselves up behind the walls, 

 and these give birth to extensive horizontal platforms on which are 

 stopped the blocks detached from the summit of the ravine, which for- 

 merly came down without hindrance to the imperial road like veritable 

 projectiles. 



" At the commencement of the works nobody in the country believed 

 they would be successful. To undertake to restrain the Rieulet was, they 

 would say, an impossibility. To-day the most incredulous are constrained 

 to yield to the force of evidence. 



"III. — To complete the description of the p6rimfetre of Bareges it is 

 proper that mention should be made of the opening of a forest road, which, 

 setting out from the civil hospice, goes up by a series of lacets, of a pretty 

 gentle slope, to the base of the peak of Ayr6. It is of a total length of 

 11,782 mfetres ; sustaining walls line it where the mobility of the slope 

 might create fears, and the roadway is in such a state of solidity that the 

 expense necessary for its maintenance will be very small. 



" The formation of this road was indispensable that they might come with 

 beasts of burden to the origin of the ravine Eieulet, or to the extremity of 

 the canton Ayrfe, for works connected with the p^rimfetre of Bareges as well 

 as for those which were connected with the p^rimfetres of Sers and 

 Betpouey. Undertaken in its lower part in the course of the year 1862, it 

 reached in the year following a development of 8100 metres ; repaired and 

 consolidated since then, it was finished in 1868. 



" Apart from its utility in regard to the works, the route d'Ayre is a real 

 benefit to the bathers who frequent Bareges, a benefit greatly appreciated 

 by them and by the whole of the intelligent portion of ,the population. 

 There is not, indeed, in the locality other place of promenade than a level 

 alley along the front of the houses of the town, devoid both of shade and 

 shelter. Now the forest road stretches for nearly 8 kilomfetres across the 

 communal forest, sheltered from wind and sun in running through the midst 

 of massive blocks of beech oo-mingled with silver pine, which give a smiling 

 aspect to the road, which being moreover frequented by a great many of 

 the bathers, the presence of these gives to it a. character of great animation. 

 The more vigorous get on horseback to the peak dAyrfe whence they see 

 the valley of Luz, that of Lians and the glaciers which crown the N6ouvielle. 

 Those who 'cannot undertake so long an ascent, content themselves with 



2n 



