Researches on ExUtmg Glaciers. 269 



depth of about 80 feet I encountered a ridge of ice which 

 divided the pit into two compartments, and I endeavoured 

 to enter the widest ; but I could not penetrate more than 5 or 

 6 feet, because the passage became divided into several narrow 

 canals. I caused myself to be raised up, and managing so as 

 to make the rope deviate from the vertical line, I got into 

 the other compartment. I had observed in descending, that 

 there was water at the bottom of the pit, but I supposed it to 

 be at a very great depth ; and as my attention was especially 

 directed to the vertical bands, which I continued to trace, 

 thanks to the light reflected by the brilliant walls of the ice, 1 

 was very much astonished when I suddenly felt that my feet 

 were immersed in water. I immediately directed myself to be 

 drawn up, but the order was misunderstood, and in place of 

 iUscending, I found that I was descending. I then uttered a 

 cry of distress, which was heard, and I was raised up before 

 being obliged to have recourse to swimming. It seemed to me 

 as if I had never in my life encountered water so cold. Frag- 

 ments of ice floated on its surface, which no doubt were 

 broken portions of stalactites. The walls of the pit were rough 

 to the touch, and this was doubtless caused by the capillary 

 fissures. 



I should have wished much to remain a longer time to exa- 

 mine the details of the structure of the ice, and to enjoy the 

 •unique spectacle presented by the blue of the sky, as seen 

 from the bottom of the abyss ; but the cold obliged me to 

 ascend as soon as possible. When I reached the surface, my 

 friends told me of their anxiety for my safety when they heard 

 my cries, and that they had experienced the greatest possible 

 difficulty in di'awing me up tlie pit, although they were eight 

 in number. 1 had, however, reflected but little on the danger 

 of my position. Perhaps, if I had known it previously, I would 

 not have exposed myself to it ; for, if one of the large pointed 

 flakes of ice lining the walls of the cavity had been detached 

 by the rubbing of the rope, and had struck me in its descent, 

 my destruction would have been certain. I Avould, therefore, 

 advise no one to repeat the experiment, unless it should be fur 

 some important scientific purpose. 



