Nov. 8, 1858.] AND ASCENT OF DEMAVEND. '. 15 



lungs. After 2 hours more we reached another precipice higher 

 than the last. This we surmounted without difficulty, and then 

 found to our right a precipice of enormous depth. Opposite rose 

 another, whose rocks, however, unlike those on which we were 

 standing, were of a reddish-yellow colour, apparently composed of 

 sulphur and lime. The space below was filled with ice and snow. 

 Skirting along the edge of this precipice we came, after about 1^ 

 hours, to Bamshi Bend, or Cats' Pass, in Mazanderani dialect. 

 This, though somewhat unpleasant from its great height, was this 

 time comparatively safe and easy. On the last occasion on which 

 we made the ascent, we were forced to cut steps in the ice with 

 hatchets in order to obtain footing ; we also took the precaution of 

 attaching ropes in case w-a should fall. Now there was no ice, and 

 but little snow. The elevation below this pass is 18,509 feet. 

 Above this we had again to scramble over blocks of basalt such as 

 we had met with at the commencement of the ascent. This con- 

 tinued for about an hour, after which, except in one or two places, the 

 ascent was rather less steep. We now crossed a long space covered 

 entirely with soft gravelly soil, consisting apparently of limestone 

 and disintegrated rock of various descriptions, together with crystals 

 of sulphur which lie about in large quantities, and of great purit}^ 

 Beyond this rises the last ascent, up a steep slope, among rocks of a 

 light yellow colour, formed of limestone and sulphur. 



The last part of the ascent from the Bamshi Bend was extremely 

 painful from the rarefaction of the air. We were attacked with 

 nausea and violent headaches, and experienced great difficulty even 

 when at rest in drawing breath. Monsieur de St. Quentin, of the 

 French Mission, and M. Castelli, a Sardinian gentleman, who hearing 

 of our intended expedition had asked to accompany us, were also 

 attacked in the same manner. Having recovered a little from our 

 fatigue, we proceeded to take observations of the height of the 

 mountain. This we ascertained to reach the enormous height of 

 21,520 feet. 



The cone of Demavend terminates in a crater about 85 yards in 

 diameter, which is nearly surrounded by jagged rocks. The^e are 

 highest on the northern and southern sides. They are not, however, 

 everywhere of the same composition : to the north and west they 

 are of the same basalt of which we had seen so much in ascending 

 the mountain, while to the south and east they are composed of 

 sulphur and lime. The basin of the crater was almost entirely filled 

 with snow, upon which we did not venture more than a few yards, 

 as we found that it increased in depth at every step. There are two 

 caves near the summit, one 100 feet below the eastern side of the 



