The Pyrenees; With Excursions Into Spain Volume 2 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1843 edition. Excerpt: ... Oleron, we had a succession of three or four valleys--each with its narrow entrance--sometimes so narrow that nature made a passage only for the torrent, and art, by cutting through the rock, has added the road. As we descended to the Pont d'Escot, a curious conical lime-stone rock occurs so close to the road, that part of it was cut away to allow room to pass. Near the Pont d'Escot, the road has been greatly improved, so that the Roman inscription which once stood above is now on a level with the traveller. The upper part of the inscription appears to be in its original state, and 208 SARANCE. is almost illegible; the lower part looks as if it had been retouched. I copied part of it, as fol-follovvs: --" L. Valffirius Ger 11 vir bis hanc Viam restituit Qui ami amicus." The number of beggars, making a sad display of their infirmities, shews that this must be a very frequented route. After crossing the bridge, the drive is beautiful: we passed a small bathing establishment, frequented, as I heard, only by the lower class; and a paper manufactory, worked by a stream close to its source, --such is the force with which it rises within a few yards of the Gave. We again crossed a bridge, to reach another valley, and ascended to the little town of Sarance, whose church possesses an image of great sanctity, and which was, in former times, of sufficient celebrity to obtain a visit from Louis XI. I rather think the image must be in a small chapel near the road: many people were kneeling before it. The road continued to follow the windings of the Gave, and the narrow valleys full of beauty. Before reaching Bidous, we left BIRTH-PLACE OF DESPOURRINS. 209 the river, to ascend a hill, and at its top, and immediately before entering the town, had a good view of...