The Isar Begins Its Course Close To Mittenwald, And The
Place On Which The Raft Stood, Previous To Departure, Was Very Shallow; But
Water Was Quickly Let In From Sluices To Float The Raft, And Off We Set
With A Cargo Of Peasants, Male And Female, And Merchandise Bound For
Munich.
As the river Isar rushes between immense mountains, and forms a
continual descent until the plains of Bavaria open to view, you may
conceive with what rapidity we went.
We encountered several falls of water
of two, three, four and sometimes five feet which we had to shoot, which
no boat could possibly do without being upset. The lower part of the raft
was frequently under water in making these shoots and we were obliged to
hold on fast to our seats to prevent being jerked off. Nothing can be more
romantic and picturesque than this journey, and there is something aweful
in shooting these falls; these rafts are, however, so solidly constructed
that there is no danger whatever. They can neither sink nor upset. We
arrived and halted the evening at Toelz, a large village or town on the
right bank of the Isar. What gives to Toelz a remarkably singular appearance
is, that on a height at a short distance from the town, and hanging
abruptly over the river, you perceive several figures in wood, larger than
the life, which figures form groups, representing the whole history of the
passion of Jesus Christ. At a short distance, if you are not prepared for
this, you suppose that they are real men, and that a procession or
execution is going forward.
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