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CHAPTER III.

WEST OF TILE BERNINA.

THE PEAKS AND PASSES OP VAL MASINO . 1

II montera, descendra, traversera, remontera, redescendra, retra-versera, etcetera .—French Flay.

And when I most go here and tliero,

I then do most go right. Shakespeare .

THE MOUNTAINS OF YAL MASINO—THE AVERSTHAL—MADIUSER PASS—YALBREGAGLIA—ZOCCA PASS—PROMONTOGNO—YAL BONDASCA—PASSO 1)1 FERRO—BAGNI DEL MASINO—PASSO DI MONTE SISSONF.—THE FOENO GLACIER.

To the crowd, which having sat down in a draught onthe roof of Europe spends its time mostly in bemoan-ing the cold, to the water-drinkers of St. Moritz or thepensioners of Pontresina , the mountains of Yal Masinoare unknown. Yet had they eyes to see they mightoften be attracted by the vision of two square towersrising far beyond the blue lakes and the green ridge ofthe Maloya, and shining like an enchanted keep throughthe warm haze of Italy . 2 They are indeed the rampartsof Paradise, for on the further side they look downupon the gardens of Lago di Como.

1 This and the following chapter were originally written as a paper tohe read before the Alpine Club.

2 See Vignette.