CHAPTER XIX.

VALLEY OF ORERHAST.I-MEYRTNGF.N-THE PASTURES OF THE ALPS-FEAX-GROWTNG-

AMUSEMENTS OF THE PEASANTRY.

The valley of the Ober or Upper Ilasli is nearly in the centre of Switzerland . From itseastern extremity to the lake of Brienz ; it is about thirty miles in length, and terminatesin a plain of some extent, at the end where the lake is situated. It is bounded on

VALLEY OF MEYRINGF.N.

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each side by lofty mountains, while the Jungfrau , the Finsteraarhorn , and Mount St.Gotliard, are not many miles distant.

The valley of Oberhasli is watered by the Aar, which is formed by two streams, havingtheir principal sources in the glaciers of the Schreckhorn and Grimsel mountains, andnot more than a mile from the sources of the Rhine . The Aar traverses great part ofSwitzerland , and is, indeed, the most considerable river in that country after the Rhone and the Rhine . Having united its different arms near Meyringen , it flows thencethrough the lakes of Brienz and Thun, where it becomes navigable. Escaping from thelatter, it takes a northerly direction till it reaches Berne, and after various windings, itunites with the Rhine , opposite to Waldshut . In the upper part of its course, it dashes