ROUTE 72c. BREMEN TO BERLIN BY BUCHHOLZ AND WITTENBERGE.-RAIL. beauties of the only range of hills that falls within their observation. The scenery has, however, a beauty and a singularity of its own; and the lover of the picturesque, who does not look for Alpine grandeur, will find unexpected charms in this delightful region. The points usually visited are the Brocken, on account of its view, which is rarely seen, owing to the mists which Distance, 218 m.; time, 11 to 12 hrs., 3 trains envelope it, and the constant rain at daily. The Harz, the most northerly range of mountains in Germany, composed mainly of Devonian strata overlying granite, is about 70 m. long, and 20 to 28 broad; it lies on the confines of Brunswick, Anhalt and Prussia; and is divided among them. The Brocken, the loftiest summit, is lower than the highest British mountains, but the Harz chain rises alone, immediately out of a level plain extending all the way to the Baltic, whose inhabitants, accustomed to an uninterrupted flat, exaggerate both the elevation and the most seasons; it is also famous for the the phenomenon called Spectre of the superstitions connected with it, and for of the Bode are more interesting than Brocken. The Rosstrappe and valley the Brocken, from their fine and peculiar scenery. About half-way between these two places are the curious caves of Baumanns- and Bielshöhle, interesting to geologists on account of the fossil bones found in them. The principal mines are at Clausthal, Andreasberg, and Goslar. For the Germans and English this district has a peculiar historical interest, as it is supposed to be the land of Hermann (Arminius), the formidable antagonist of the Romans (see Rte. 69A), and among its woods and rocks were the fastnesses of the indomitable Cherusci. A carriage with 2 horses costs 15 mks. the day-a guide is well paid with 3 mks. Plan for an abbreviated Tour of the Harz. The numerous intersecting lines of Rly. now open make all parts of the Harz readily accessible. "Start from Göttingen in the morning by rail for Herzberg and Andreasberg. After visiting the mouth of Samson's Mine and the stamping-works adjoining, abundance of time remains to pursue the agreeable path which leads to the top of the Brocken, by a watercourse called the Rehberger Graben, which conveys a stream to the works of Andreasberg from the Oderteich, and passes through one of the most characteristic and picturesque valleys of the Harz. The Oderteich reservoir should be reached in 2 hrs., the good little Inn at Oderbrück in half an hour more, and the summit of the Brocken | Goslar to the Brocken. 3rd, Brocken thence in 24 hrs, to Blankenburg. 4th, to Rosstrappe and Alexisbad. "After sleeping at the Brocken, an excursion should be made down the valley of the Ilse, to the point called Ilsenstein, and the traveller, then retracing his steps for some way, passes across the N.E. shoulders of the Brocken, under the Zeterklippen, to Schierke, where he may dine, and reach Elbingerode in the evening, and he might even visit the open ironmines of Buchberg the same day. "Next day should be devoted to a visit to the Rosstrappe. The caves at Rübeland, on the way, are hardly worth visiting, but thence a guide may be procured to point out the shortest woodland path to the Rosstrappe, 12 m. distant, which displays the greatest variety of charming scenery. The walks round the Rosstrappe may occupy some hours, and the Inn there affords ample accommodation; while trains from Thale, 40 min. distant, will carry you on your way to any part of Germany." From Brunswick or Halle the Harz is now readily approached on the N. side by the Harzburg Railway (see Rte. 66), which from Vienenburg Junct. Stat. branches (1) to Goslar, (2) to Harzburg, (3) to Wernigerode, (4) by Halberstadt to Blankenburg, Quedlinburg, Thale (for the Rosstrappe) and Ballenstedt. On the S. side the range may be readily explored from Nordhausen, Ellrich, S. Andreasberg, and Clausthal. The Roads in the interior of the Harz are much improved, and generally practicable for light carriages, though often very circuitous, owing to the hilly character of the ground. A good road leads from Harzburg to the Torfhaus, at the foot of the Brocken, and thence past the Oderteich to Oderbrück and Königskrug. From Ilsenburg there is a carriageroad to the top of the Brocken all the way, distance 9 m. The following excursion may be easily made in 4 days, thus: 1st, from Göttingen to Goslar. 2nd, From Göttingen to Goslar we have a choice of 3 routes: i. Railroad from Göttingen to Hanover and Brunswick (Rte. 72) as far as 12 m. Northeim Junct. Stat., thence Branch line to 29 m. Herzberg Junct. Stat., and N. to Seesen as far as 37 m. Osterode Stat. (Inns: Englischer Hof; Krone.) A town of 5400 Inhab., on the Söse, supported by various manufactures of wool, cotton, white lead, shot, &c. It contains enormous corn warehouses, from which, by a provision of the Government, the miners of the district and their families are supplied with corn at a fixed low price, even in times of scarcity, and when it rises in other districts. The Harz itself, from its elevation and barren soil, produces scarcely any grain. There are some curious old monuments in St. John's Ch. In front of the Rathhaus hang, attached to chains, a knife and a long bone: their origin or meaning is not satisfactorily explained. Diligence to Clausthal twice daily, 94 m. in 2 hrs. ii. From (29 m.) Herzberg Stat. we may continue along the same line to (32 m.) Scharzfeld Junct. Stat., and thence take the branch Rly. to (42 m.) S. Andreasberg, whence Diligence in 3 hrs. to (13 m.) Clausthal. iii. Proceeding direct from Göttingen to (24 m.) Kreiensen Stat., and (36 m.) Seesen Stat., we may follow the branch Rly. to (47 m.) Langelsheim and (51 m.) Goslar. From Langelsheim a line runs N.E. to (12 m.) Vienenburg, and S. to (16 m.) Clausthal. The latter will certainly be the most convenient way of approaching this district from the N. Clausthal Stat. (Inns: Goldene Krone; Deutscher Kaiser; Stadt London; Rathhaus). This is the principal mining town (Bergstadt) of the Harz; it has 8900 Inhab., and the adjoining town of Zellerfeld (Inn: Deutsches Haus), 4500, chiefly miners or persons connected with the mines and smelting-| dark, damp, and fatiguing, but not houses. It lies in a bare bleak region, dangerous: the miner clings fast by on the top and slopes of a hill, 1860 Eng. ft. above the sea, an elevation where corn ceases to ripen. There is a desolate look about it; its houses are chiefly of wood, and even its principal church is of the same material. It was destroyed by fire 1844. In order to visit the School of Mines, Mint, Mines, and Furnaces, strangers must apply to the chief of the mines, Berghauptman, for a permission (Erlaubnisschein), which is readily granted, and which the landlord of the inn will procure. his hands, and never minds his feet; he holds on by the steps, and not by the side of the ladder, and this ensures safety. Arrived at the bottom, the visitor sees little except wheels and ropes, by which the ore is raised, and water pumped out: he hears a rattling of machinery, and here and there finds a solitary miner, plying the pickaxe and chisel, to extract the ore. A general idea of the process of mining is best learned from models aboveground. In the mine called Silbersegen is a perpendicular shaft, 176 fathoms deep, with a pump moved by a water column, which draws up the water 688 ft. A subterranean canal, 2339 fathoms long, has been constructed to convey the ore from some of the shafts. The mine called Herzog Georg Wilhelm contains one of the deepest shafts in the Harz; it reaches down 2000 ft., which is below the level of the Baltic. The mines of Clausthal are drained by a subterranean tunnel, called Georgstollen, cut through the mountain, 6 m. long, which empties itself near Grund (Inn: Rathskeller), Pop. 1600, a small The Mint (Münze). Here the pre- summer resort and watering-place, piccious metals produced in the Hano-turesquely situated near the Hübichenverian district of the Harz are assayed stein rocks. and coined. The miners' wages, to the amount of 15,000 marks, are usually paid at the Rathhaus every Saturday, with silver coined during the week. For 5 days out of the 7, a miner in full employment works 12 hours under ground. The School of Mines (Bergschule), in a corner house of the market-place, is destined for the gratuitous education of young miners, and is supported by the Government. It contains an extensive collection of models of mines, and of the machinery and buildings used in mining and smelting, very instructive for those who wish to obtain some knowledge of the processes in use. Also a very good cabinet of the minerals found in the Harz. Collectors may purchase specimens here. The Mines principally visited are the Caroline and the Dorothea, as they are the cleanliest and best ventilated. The entrance to them is about half an hour's walk from the town, at two great blackened buildings, where the stranger, who has secured his permission from the Director of the mines, is provided with a miner's dress, a stiff felt cap, without a brim, to resist knocks on the head, a leather apron tied on behind, and a coarse grey jacket and trowsers; also with guides to attend him, bearing lights. The descent is by a series of ladders; it is As the machinery for pumping water out of the mines, as well as for the forges, tilt-hammers, and stampingmills, is all put in motion by waterpower, the utmost attention is paid to collecting an adequate supply for this purpose. Every little rill in the neighbourhood of Clausthal is dammed up and formed into a reservoir. There are more than 50 of these ponds to supply the works about Clausthal and Zellerfeld alone; they set in motion 170 water-wheels, and the water is conducted from the reservoirs to the mills in canals or aqueducts, the entire length of which is not less than 125 Eng. m. About 2 m. W. of Clausthal is the Silver Smelting Foundry, called the Frankenscharner Silberhütte; the neighbourhood of it is literally a blasted waste, owing to the destructive effects |