AMONG THE VOLCANOS AND GLACIERS OF AUVERGNE. 
19 
from thence to the transported blocks is about 5 miles, over an un- 
interesting route, which is not to be compared for scenery and geo- 
logical phenomena to that over the Col by the Pic de Sancy. It 
has, however, the advantage of being much easier in transit. The 
valley here is a gradual ascent for nearly 5 miles over a poor 
peaty pasturage with low eminences of granite, overlain by 
basalt. The country has a moutonnee appearance as if a glacier 
had come over it a long time ago ; and on the slope facing some 
burons above the road-bridge I detected a boulder of felstone 
porphyry from the Pic de Sancy. Arrived at the rock masses 
already described, Sir David Wedderburn made the height of 
the ridge against which they rest 4,500 ft. above the sea, or 
1,509 ft. below the Pic. Mr. Lucy also made full notes on the 
position of the felstone porphyry and the surrounding geological 
phenomena. We advise a walk back along the stream to the 
village of Picherande, as it shows great stranded rock masses on 
both sides of the stream, especially below the little waterfall near 
where the erratics are situated. The road to Besse traverses a 
desolate country, and so backward was the season that, although 
the 20th May, there was not a leaf on the trees, and the only 
plant seen was Petasites ctlbus. This southern flank of Mont 
Dore is far colder than the northern side. We passed Vassi- 
viere, situated on the bleak hill-side, and where annually a 
great religious fete is held in honour of Notre Dame de Vassi- 
viere, and examined the crater lake, Lac Pavin, which is a most 
striking scene with its crater-walls clothed with wood and its 
weird-looking hollow filled with waters dark as Erebus. Besse 
still retains many of the features of an old mediaeval town. Many 
of the houses are built of stone, and display in the soffits of 
doors and windows much architectural enrichment of the 
thirteenth or fourteenth centuries. One house was pointed out 
as the 44 Maison de la Peine Marguerite, 5 ’ who, we were told, 
44 mangeait des petits enfans.” It bears traces of having been 
a building of some importance, as there is a broad winding 
stone staircase in a tower which terminated in a stone vault, on 
bosses of which are carved figures with the letter ( f ), possibly 
the initial of Marguerite. Belies of the old town walls still 
exist, and on an angle of wall is a stone with the following 
inscription : — 
I. BARBVT 
I. BESSEIRE 
CONSVLS 
1010. 
We were quartered at the hostelry of 44 Le Cheval Blanc,” and 
supped off a trout 5 lbs. in weight, from Lac Pavin. The road 
between Besse and Murol is rough and hilly, but the turf was 
in some places enamelled with the purple blossoms of Viola 
