DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70267#0191
THE BLACK LAKE IN SWITZERLAND. 165
without number ; however, the Swiss Finstersee, situated
in the Canton of Ztig, has appeared a singular phenome-
non to the few travellers who have visited that romantic
quarter on foot. It is situated, says a late traveller, in a
circular bason, and concealed till you come directly upon
it by the surrounding hills. From a declivity rather steep,
he says, having the first view of this water, I could not
readily account for its appearance; my eyes seemed
as if suddenly affected by the reflection of the sun-beams
from a surface of ice; but in a moment after, the smooth
level, beneath my feet, sefemed changed to a deep green.
This hue,- from which it has derived the name of the
Black Lake,- is naturally accounted for by the foliage
and pasturage; which rising thickly all around it, cannot
do otherwise'than darken the surface of this Lake. Its ex-
tent is not large ;■ but in a country where your ears are
nearly deafened by the roaring of distant torrents, the rip-
pling of the smaller brooks and rills down the rocks and
precipices, together with a continual rustling of leaves and
saplins shaken by the winds ; any image, which, like that
of a lake, suggests the idea of stillness, cannot be other-'
wise than agreeable. On the other hand, when a stranger
is saluted by the hospitable peasants in this quarter, the
rude symphony proceeding from various objects J have just
described, compel them to speak so loud, that the former
would imagine they were displeased with him—an idea
entirely misplaced, as the Swiss peasant is so cordial, even
in his manner of shaking hands with a Visitor, that you
would almost apprehend the dislocation of your fingers.—
Another peculiarity in these lonely regions, is the' partis
cular cry of the cow herds ; which being conveyed by
,the echoes from mountain to mountain, the docile beasts
on hearing it, will immediately collect themselves together,-
and' foj-iow the cry wherever it may lead them.
INTEREST-
without number ; however, the Swiss Finstersee, situated
in the Canton of Ztig, has appeared a singular phenome-
non to the few travellers who have visited that romantic
quarter on foot. It is situated, says a late traveller, in a
circular bason, and concealed till you come directly upon
it by the surrounding hills. From a declivity rather steep,
he says, having the first view of this water, I could not
readily account for its appearance; my eyes seemed
as if suddenly affected by the reflection of the sun-beams
from a surface of ice; but in a moment after, the smooth
level, beneath my feet, sefemed changed to a deep green.
This hue,- from which it has derived the name of the
Black Lake,- is naturally accounted for by the foliage
and pasturage; which rising thickly all around it, cannot
do otherwise'than darken the surface of this Lake. Its ex-
tent is not large ;■ but in a country where your ears are
nearly deafened by the roaring of distant torrents, the rip-
pling of the smaller brooks and rills down the rocks and
precipices, together with a continual rustling of leaves and
saplins shaken by the winds ; any image, which, like that
of a lake, suggests the idea of stillness, cannot be other-'
wise than agreeable. On the other hand, when a stranger
is saluted by the hospitable peasants in this quarter, the
rude symphony proceeding from various objects J have just
described, compel them to speak so loud, that the former
would imagine they were displeased with him—an idea
entirely misplaced, as the Swiss peasant is so cordial, even
in his manner of shaking hands with a Visitor, that you
would almost apprehend the dislocation of your fingers.—
Another peculiarity in these lonely regions, is the' partis
cular cry of the cow herds ; which being conveyed by
,the echoes from mountain to mountain, the docile beasts
on hearing it, will immediately collect themselves together,-
and' foj-iow the cry wherever it may lead them.
INTEREST-