EXCURSION TO MONTSEIIRAT. 277 



having completed half our journey, made a 

 halt to look back on our friends behind, who 

 were winding down the mountain side. Their 

 appearance was very picturesque ; the ladies 

 in their variegated dresses, some mounted, 

 others on foot, each followed by a gentle- 

 man to prevent accident ; the rear closed by 

 the servants of the country, carrying on 

 their heads the empty baskets, which had 

 been filled with provisions in the morning. 

 The whole line was in single file, and took 

 up a considerable extent of ground ; at one 

 moment disappearing, the next instant in 

 sight again, and cautiously winding round 

 the brink of a precipice, where on the slight- 

 est slip of the foot, certain and inevitable 

 destruction must ensue : the sun gently set- 

 ting in the west, threw his mild farewell 

 beams over the scene, and heightened the 

 interest of the whole picture, which may be 

 more easily conceived than described. 



