518 
There are still seen on Ruffiberg, along 
the western border of the fallen parts, 
some scattered honses which have almost 
miraculously escaped the destruction. 
The houses, excepting one at Spitzbuhl, 
have not been abandoned since the ca- 
Seereepbe, notwithstanding the injunction 
of government to that purpose; but the 
inhabitants reside with the remainder of 
their fiocks m perfect security. 
The separated part, in covering three 
fourths of the valley of Arth, and in de- 
spoiling this space of every trace of vege- 
tation, has net spread its ruins Iman uni- 
form manner. .The largest blocks of 
blend have formed, in the direction of the 
current of the fallen part, a little bill 
that tiocks up the vailey quite across. 
This little hil is divided ito two 
prongs tits extremity towards mount Ri- 
i, and itis conjectured that its suminit is 
800 feet above the ancient level of the 
valley. The rocks which compose the 
elevation dimimish in number and size, 
the further they are from.the line of im- 
pulse. The lower parts of the ruins 
particularly on the east side, almost en- 
tirely consist of clay and of yellow, grey 
and black marl: this marl hasa_ black 
tinge in the part heaped on the lake of 
Lowerig, and its neighbourhood, because 
the soil, naturally mossy in this place, was 
furrowed and thrown up by the large 
blocks of stone which are buried there. 
Most of the frvalets which descend 
from Rigi and Rofiiberg emptied them- 
selves into the lake Lowertz before the 
fall of Ruthberg; but, as they are 
stopped by its ruins and lost in the in- 
aks il they acain flow back onthe land, 
and here and there f. orm ponds. People 
have attempted to give them an outle y 
e; pecially on the side of the lake Lowertz 
which empti ies itself by its western ex- 
tremity into the lake of Lucerne. The 
lake of Zug hasno communication with it, 
but flows on the side of the town of “the 
same name, with a direction and fall al- 
most contrary to that of the lake Low- 
értz. 
Sore fears were at first entertained 
that these rivulets would not direct 
their waters towards Arth or Aug, or 
any new course, and that they would 
overfiow the countries, but there is no- 
thing at present to justify such 
The lake of Zug has eee its level. 
Saven, a stream that mpties the lake 
Lowertz, contains n th er more nor less 
\: 
alarms 
Zsle 
water than before the dissolution, and the 
ike are not sensibly ixcreased although 
auch rain has falien, 
Account of the Fall of Rugiberg, in Switzerland, 
[July J 
| 
Arth, situated on the. western extre- 
mity of the valley, has suffered no injury. 
The frst village desi royed between Arth 
and Lowertz is Goldau, next Hueloch, and 
then Bu issingen both these are entirely 
buried; and lastly at the eastern extre- 
mity of the valley, the village of Lowertz 
which hes lost more than two thirds of 
its buildings. 
Goldau 1s buried more than one hun- 
dred teet below the hilleck formed by 
theeveut. Theinhabitants were crushed 
by enormous rocks, and their lives termi- 
nated in aninstant. Bat Lowertz, which 
iS not totally destroyed and m/a.great 
measure received only the softened clay 
fromm the borders of the fallen part, pre- 
sented a much more distressing scene. 
The space which this village occupies and 
all its viciaity present the image of an 
agitated sea. Here and there are per- 
‘ceived on its surface the beams of ruined 
houses, and the branches and reots of 
trees thrown down; a cadaveroussmell 
fora long time was ev ery where percciv- 
ed; the remaining inhabitants, with coun- 
tenances melanch ely. and bewildered, 
were, when M. Saussure was present, bs- 
sily encaged i ip searching for and euarding 
the remnants that had escaped from this 
species of shipwreck. Tt was there, pro- 
tably, that many of the inhabitants thus 
buricd, wished for the arrival of death, 
like that of a friend, and had t6 prolonga 
wretched existence a living tomb. 
“Tt passed Cx M.S. ) two days in these 
devastated places, and traced them in 
various directions. I’ was prepared to 
attend to the solicitations of the wretch- 
ed, who were truly entitled to seek ofa 
stranger some consolation to their mi- 
sery. IT was mistaken in this expecta~ 
tion, Not an individual demanded cha- 
rity, and 1¢ was only on my interrogations 
that they related their misfortunes.” 
The account frem another intelligent 
observer is as follows :-—It was about 
a week after the fall of the mountain 
that our route threngh Switzerland led 
us to this scene of desolation; 
and never can I forget the sueces- 
sion of melancholy views which pre- 
sented themselves fo ovr curiosity. In 
our way toit we landed at, Arth, a town 
situated at the southern extremity of the 
lake ofZug; and we skirted along the east- 
ern boundary of the ruins, by the side of 
Mount Rici,towards the lake of Lowertz. 
From various pee on our passage we 
had complete views of such a scene of © 
dest ruction as no words can conan 
describe. 
visit 
Pictarer | 
