244 Professor Agassiz on the Glacier Theory^ 



the difficulties of the road had so exhausted us, that we were 

 obliged to repose several times in order to recover our breath. 

 At length we heard the barking of the dogs of the Hospice. 

 It was, as it were, a friendly voice calling us to be of good 

 cheer. We felt our vigour reanimated by this encouraging 

 sound, and in a few moments afterwards, we saw making their 

 appearance, on the mountain which rises above the Grimsel, 

 the keeper of the Hospice, accompanied by his fine New- 

 foundland dog, Barry. 



"A small traffic of exchange is carried on between the 

 Valais and the Hassli, which is not entirely discontinued dur- 

 ing the winter, and of which the Grimsel is the warehouse at 

 that season. The Hasslians bring their cheese, the Valaisans 

 their wine, their brandy, and various kinds of provisions, 

 among others, rice, which comes from Italy by the Simplon 

 or the Gries. The two parties stop at the Hospice, sleep 

 there, and are at home next day, carrying with them cheese, 

 if they descend to the Valais, and wine and brandy, if they 

 return to the valley of Hassli. It is for the purpose of facili- 

 tating this communication that the keeper of the Hospice is 

 bound to have a man and two dogs at the Grimsel during the 

 whole winter, and likewise to place picquets on the whole 

 mountain of the Grimsel between tlie Hospice and the Valais, 

 to point out the path to travellers. 



'* It is unnecessary to remark, that, to allow of this commerce 

 being carried on in winter, the weather must not be too se- 

 vere, for it would be madness to attempt such a journey in the 

 midst of snow or wind. Thus the Grimsel, at such a time, is 

 altogether solitary, and the keeper told us, that during the 

 winter of 1839-40 lie had passed thirty-five days without see- 

 ing a human figure. ' This long isolation,' he added, * seemed 

 to me so painful, that, on perceiving the first traveller who 

 passed the Grimsel, I threw myself on his neck, embraced him, 

 and offered him a bottle of wine.' The dogs here are at least 

 as important as the men for watching, on account of the ex- 

 treme delicacy of their senses, and especially of that of smell. 

 All the guides assert that in serene weather, and especially in 

 winter, they detect the presence of a man at the distance of a 

 league, and Jaun assured us, that an hour before our arriy.^I,^ 



