314 JOURNEY OVER MOUNT GOTTHARD. 



fnow. This part of the journey I likewife performed 

 on foot ; and then caufed myfelf to be drawn, I was fo 

 fatigued with my frequent falls. The road however 

 does not run quite fo fteep as on the fouthern fide, and 

 is therefore lefs dangerous, as one is not forced fo fre- 

 quently to crofs the Reufs over arches of fnow, as we 

 keep that river all the way on the right. Yet I found 

 myfelf very much relieved on reaching the end of the 

 fnow, and could once more purfue my way on firm 

 land. I now got again on horfeback, highly delighted 

 at having left that irkfome way behind me ; and was as 

 much at my eafe as if I was riding over the finefr. turf ; 

 though I faw nothing above and below and around me 

 but rocks and precipices. Towards noon I arrived at 

 the Dorf hofpital in the Urfeline valley. 



This charming valley, which is almoft. a plain, 

 though fo high on the Alps, is the feat of a particular 

 people, not numerous, enjoying an almoft complete 

 republican liberty under the fovereignty of the canton 

 of Ury. They inhabit four villages that lie difperfed 

 in the valley, which is entirely furrounded on all fides 

 with lofty and fteep mountains, in fuch manner, that 

 ail accefs to it might, with very little trouble, be denied 

 to every effort of human power. There are but four 

 ways that lead out of it, exactly facing the four quar- 

 ters of the cornpafs. Towards the fouth acrofs mount 

 Gotthard ; towards the north down the cleft which the 

 Reufs has hollowed through the mountain ; towards the 

 weft over the Furca to Wallis ; and towards the eaft 

 acrofs the upper alp. But all thefe paries are fo intri- 

 cate, and in many places fo narrow, that they might 

 with great eafe be entirely Hopped up. On the moun- 

 tains 



