[11]
Gex, which is about three quarters of a league in breadth, and three and a half in length, in shape like a tongue, ftretching across the country down to the Lake.-The moment we entered it, we were attacked by a harpy, commonly called a Commis of a Bureau, who extorted more duties upon our baggage for three quarters of a league, than the like charges for twenty-eight leagues had amounted to in Switzerland.-Our Commis was fuc- ceeded by a woman between feventy and eighty years old, who purfued us, clattering her wooden fhoes, and demanding a trifling toll. The firft time I have feen rouge fince I left France was on the fhrivelled checks of this beldame.-As we were very curious to fee the port of Verfoix (the new town) we dispatched our courier to the com- mandant for his permiffion to that purpoſe, which was very obligingly granted, and he fent the com- manding officer of the troops to be our guide. The commandant very politely excufed himſelf from accompanying us, on account of illness, and being confined to his room. His name is [-re: he inhabits a poor cottage, juft at the entrance of the bourg. We alighted then from our carriage, and walked about what is to be the town of Verfoix, for there is not a houfe yet begun upon. The ftreets, fquares, &c. are indeed diftinguished by tall ftakes fixed in the ground, and have all pompous names. Here are a few miferable hovels, or rather roofs of planks, which almoft touch the ground, and appear at a diſtance like tents. In these