The narrative of a journey undertaken in the years 1819, 1820 and 1821 through France, Italy, Savoy, Switzerland, parts of Germany bordering on the Rhine, Holland and the Netherlands : $b comprising incidents that occurred to the author, who has long suffered under a total deprivation of sight; with various points of information collected on his tourHolman, James
History
The narrative of a journey undertaken in the years 1819, 1820 and 1821 through France, Italy, Savoy, Switzerland, parts of Germany bordering on the Rhine, Holland and the Netherlands : $b comprising incidents that occurred to the author, who has long suffered under a total deprivation of sight; with various points of information collected on his tour
Holman, James
Europe -- Description and travel
At ten o’clock we halted, and were regaled with a breakfast _a la
fourchette_, consisting of soup bouillè, ragoûts, roasted fowls, and
little birds; the compliments of the table were paid me; my companions
did not sit down until I had nearly finished; and the voiturier placed
himself by my side, serving me with every dish as it was brought in,
and appearing to expect me to partake of all of them. I confined myself
chiefly to the soup and rôti; the little birds would have relished well,
had not a slice of bacon placed on the breast of each, destroyed their
natural flavour.
At one o’clock we recommenced our journey, and at six in the evening,
reached our resting place for the night. After a delay of two hours,
a profuse supper was served up in regular courses, and concluded by a
dessert of grapes, pruins, apples, pears, nuts, and small sponge cakes. I
was not a little surprised at their mode of cooking a cauliflower which I
had inquired for; after a great many “_toute a l’heure’s_,” it made its
appearance, boiled as soft as batter, and mixed up with oil, vinegar, and
pepper, like a salad!
The wine was excellent, and the glass circulated freely. Who thought I,
would not travel in a voiture, to live thus cheerily, and at so trifling
an expense, for it will scarcely appear credible, that the proprietor
had engaged to convey me to Toulouse, a distance of one hundred and
twenty-five miles, occupying five days on the journey, and providing me
with every necessary, beds included, for thirty-five francs, equal to
about five shillings and ten pence English money per day!
Our supper party consisted of nine or ten persons, not indeed of the most
select kind, but I had no right to complain, as with a view of avoiding
trouble, and imposition, and at the same time, with some prospect of
deriving gratification from the _melange_ of characters I expected to
meet with, I had engaged to put up with the general fare.
My companions appeared to enjoy their repast, and every additional glass
evidently produced increased animation, as they talked louder and faster.
They were, however, particularly attentive to myself, my want of sight
probably exciting their sympathy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account