The price charged for this short passage of eight or nine hours is enormously dear.

The travellers will, however, soon have their revenge on the extortionate proprietors; a railroad is constructing, by means of which this distance will be traversed in a much shorter time, and at a great saving of expense.
But at any rate the journey by water is the more agreeable; the way lies through very picturesque scenery, and at length through "Saxon Switzerland" itself.

The commencement of the journey is, however, far from pleasing.

On the right are naked hills, and on the left large plains, over which, last spring, the swollen stream rolled, partly covering the trees and the roofs of the cottages.

Here I could for the first time see the whole extent of the calamity.