21 
covered with Andromeda tetragona, and another species which 
I propose to call empetrifolia ; a Menziesia, with green flowers, 
appears among these, and the stones are clothed with a 
tufted creeping Saxifrage, similar to S. Sternbergii. In the 
vicinity of the snow, which here covers large tracts, grow 
a peculiar Dodecatheon, and a Menyanthes with reniform 
leaves, which I had observed much larger in the half-dried 
swamps below. A delightful Aster reminded me of the 
Amellus of our country; Geum montanum (?), Andromeda poli- 
folia, Empetrum nigrum, and, hidden among these, Coptis tri- 
foliata, Azalea procumbens, some alpine Grasses, and vernal 
Carices ; these complete the picture of this region: a picture, 
certainly, which is equally characteristic of the summits of 
many mountains of similar elevation. But ascending yet 
higher, and coming to the last cross, we shall find a spacious 
meadow, adorned with a large Anemone, a red-flowered 
Bartsia, an alpine Ranunculus, aud many of the plants before - 
enumerated. The shrubby Pine woods have altogether ceased 
here; as well as a kind of shrub, which is generally confined 
to the tops of mountains, and which I omitted to notice in its 
proper place. This species seems to have altogether escaped 
the notice of the inhabitants of Sitcha; none, to whom I showed 
it, seemed to be acquainted with it. It is an exceedingly 
beautiful, thickly growing shrub, not described, at least, in 
Sprengel’s Systema, with small obovate es of a same 
colour on both sides. 
« Thus I have led you, in desc ioi; to the Ps at 
which all who have hitherto ascended this mountain, pause, 
and begin to return: but farther on is the naked rocky 
summit, which I cannot help inviting you to climb with me. 
To do so, we must certainly descend a considerable way; 
but among the snow we shall be likely to find some handsome - 
alpine plants. We slide down, therefore, on the snowy fields, 
and soon reach the foot of the pyramidal point. It is here 
extremely difficult to proceed among the perfectly naked 
stones, which, slipping under one's feet, roll down into the 
deep abyss below. A single false step, an involuntary trust to 
the projecting point of a loose stone, and the unwary traveller 
