CHAPTER XXII

The route for Germa?ty.—Crossing the Alps.—The St. Gothard Pass.—
Basle.—The Baths.—Schaffhausen.—Washing for gold.—Strass-
burg.—Precautions againSl fire.—Mainz.—The Rhine.—Coblenz,
—Arrival at Cologne,

I departed from Milan and set out for Germany, and
as I came to no city worthy of mention I have nothing
to relate, but I found many places burned and de¬
ftroyed, which had been laid wafte by the great Italian
commander, Facino Cane.^ The third day after
leaving Milan I arrived at a German town which is
called Luferca,^ but before I could enter it was neces¬
sary to load all the animals and baggage upon boats,
and to cross a great lake which receives its waters from
the Alps. The lake is very deep and quite four leagues
across, and in it are multitudes of fish which are said
to be very good to eat. This town muft have about
1500 burghers. It is well walled and adorned with
beautiful houses in the German manner, with ftoves
in them, and excellent inns, very abundantly pro¬
visioned.

The next day I departed and arrived at the foot of
the St. Gothard pass, high up in the Alps, and the
following day after the necessary preparations had been
made we commenced the ascent. It was the end of
Auguft when the snow melts by reason of the great
heat, and the crossing is therefore very perilous. The
people in those parts have oxen which are accuftomed
to the way. One of these beafts goes in front drawing
a long rope, and attached to the rope is a trailer which
resembles a Caftilian threshing machine.^ On this
the passenger sits, holding his horse behind him by
the reins, and the crossing is thus safely accomplished,

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