SCRAMBLES AMONGST THE ALPS. 227
good deal, have missed the passage of the Col de Pilatte,although we failed to make it an easier or a shorter routethan the Col du Sele. I rejoined Moore and Walker, thesame evening, at Venos, and on the next day went withthem over the Lautaret road to the hospice on its summit,where we slept.
So our little campaign in Dauphin^ came to an end. Itwas remarkable for the absence of failures, and for theprecision with which all our plans were carried out. Thiswas due very much to the spirit of my companions; but itwas also owing to the fine weather which we were fortunateenough to enjoy, and to our making a very early start every.morning. By beginning our work at or before the break ofday, on the longest days in the year, we were not only ableto avoid hurrying when deliberation was desirable, butcould afford to spend several hours in delightful ease when-ever the fancy seized us.
I cannot too strongly recommend to tourists in search ofamusement to avoid the inns of Dauphine. Sleep in thechalets. Get what food you can from the inns, but by nomeans attempt to pass a night in them. Sleep in them youcannot.* M. Joanne said that the inventor of the in-secticide powder was a native of Dauphine. I can wellbelieve it. He must have often felt the necessity of suchan invention in his infancy and childhood.
On June 29 I crossed the Col du Gabbier to St. Michel;on the 30th, the Col des Encombres to Moutiers ; on Julyr, the Col du Bonhomme to Contamines; and on the 2nd,by the Pavilion de Bellevue to Chamounix , where I joinedMr. Adams-Reilly to take part in some expeditions whichhad been planned long before.
* This passage, written in 1864, is perhaps now somewhat toosweeping; though, from recent experience in Dauphine, it does notappear to stand in need of much qualification.