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considerable notches of the extremity of the glacier, had completely disappeared. Wesaw no vestige of the stream. Having arrived on the surface of the glacier, we foundhere and there blocks whoso tops emerged from beneath the snow; but their lower sideswere alone visited, for the surfaces directed to the upper part of the glacier were inva-riably concealed by a covering of snow—a proof that in winter, as in summer, theprevailing winds are from the west, parallel to the axis of the glacier.
“Having found the surface of the glacier more practicable than the plain, we decidedon continuing our march, with the intention of retracing our steps afterwards. Our
"'Oil:
Wot,
DESCENDING A MOUNTAIN.
guides did not give us much encouragement, for they knew no better than we did thestate ot the glacier in winter. Our march was still very slow and arduous, as may wellbe supposed, but we did meet with portions where the snow was bearing. We thenexperienced extraordinary relief, and, in spite of fatigue, avc ran like children on thehardened surface, until the snow gave Avay under our feet, and again calmed our ardour.’
They Avere scarcely able to recognise the glacier of the Aar, so varied and animated insummer, under the uniform bed of snoiv, The great medial moraine ,'tself Avas more or