Hesperothen; Notes from the West, Vol. 2 (of 2): A Record of a Ramble in the United States and Canada in the Spring and Summer of 1881 — John Shaqi
Hesperothen; Notes from the West, Vol. 2 (of 2): A Record of a Ramble in the United States and Canada in the Spring and Summer of 1881Russell, William Howard, Sir
History
Hesperothen; Notes from the West, Vol. 2 (of 2): A Record of a Ramble in the United States and Canada in the Spring and Summer of 1881
Russell, William Howard, Sir
United States -- Description and travel
the lights in front describe a graceful curve, which showed that they
were passing by one of the dips or cuts of the road. It needed skill
and judgment for MacLenathan to conduct the carriage, because if he
drove too close to that in front of us, the clouds of dust obscured
the view, and if he dropped too far behind he lost the benefit of the
lights. By enormous trunks of trees, by piles of timber, through deep
cuttings in the rock, plashing over watercourses, descending swiftly
into river-beds, and splashing through the fords over boulders, then
climbing up steep hillsides, on and on, it seemed as though the night
would never come to an end, and we inwardly, and audibly too, expressed
our regret that we had not started a little earlier; but still there
was an almost pleasurable excitement in holding on as we swept round
one of these terrible gorges, and tried to look down into the gulf
beneath. That last stage seemed interminable, but towards 9 o'clock at
night the driver of the coach in front announced that we were getting
"near at last"; and lucky it was, for his lights were giving out. "It
is just as well that they did not," said our driver, "because it would
be bad for you." "Why?" "Well," he said, "you would just have to get
out and walk! I would not undertake to drive any one in the dark along
such a road as this." Presently we heard the noise of rushing water,
and gained the bank of a stream flowing with swiftness over a shingle
bed. This we crossed, and in half an hour more, through the dark belt
of trees in front, lights were discerned, and, crossing another stream
and a bridge, our wearied horses were pulled up in front of the hotel,
a large wooden building, on the steps of which were the landlord and
his staff, and most of the inmates turned out to greet and inspect
the travellers who had been long expected. "It is a bad country to go
driving about in the dark," said Mr. Bruce, the landlord, a sentiment
in which we thoroughly agreed. There was a supper in the common
room, to which, albeit the fare was primitive enough, we did ample
justice. Travellers have complained of the charges along the road, but,
considering the distance which all articles have to be carried to the
Valley, the heavy duties, and the shortness of the season, I do not
think that any one with experience of Swiss inns would complain much;
and if the traveller desires to drink claret, he must not be astonished
if he pays eight or nine shillings a bottle for it. The ordinary fare,
at hotel prices, is quite good enough for hungry people, and eggs,
milk, and bread are abundant, and not dear. The bedrooms, sufficiently
simple in all their appointments, are good enough to be welcome to
tired people, for there is a fair bed to lie upon, and the sheets, as
far as our experience went, were clean and fresh. Nor were the insect
horrors, of which we may have some knowledge in parts of Europe, to be
dreaded, not even mosquitoes at this time of year.
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