dip Professor Agassiz on the Glacier Theory. 



stopped, the holes were emptied of water, and the thermometro- 

 graphs were introduced, operations which continued till near- 

 ly seven o'clock. We then assembled anew round the kit- 

 chen ; but at that time, although not less hungry than at din- 

 ner, we remained a much shorter period at table, for it was 

 much colder, the temperature being then generally about 

 (32° F). The supper being over, we hastened to enter the 

 hut ; the light dresses of the day were exchanged for good 

 cloaks and furs ; and when night arrived, we closed the cm'- 

 tain which served as a door, and lighted the candle. The 

 guides Returned to their habitation on the left bank of the 

 glacier, and all slept quietly on a place of repose which un- 

 der any other circumstances would have been thought detest- 

 able. 



In this manner we passed altogether about a month on the 

 glacier of the Aar, without including the excursion to the 

 Jungfrau, which took place on the 28th of August. During 

 all this time we had a crowd of visitors, who were curious to 

 see an establishment of so novel a kind.* Others were at- 



* Among the tourists who visited us, several came from Grindelwald by 

 the Strahleck ; these, it may be well supposed, were much fatigued on 

 arriving at the Hotel des Neuchdtelois ; and I had pleasure in receiving them 

 as well as possible. One evening, when, being assembled together round 

 our hut, we were amusing ourselves by observing the eftects of light on the 

 flanks of the Finsteraarhorn, we saw a numerous caravan issuing from the 

 angle of the Abschwung. Immediately our glasses were pointed in that 

 direction, to try if we could recognise among the travellers any one of our 

 acquaintance. One of the party was in a chaise a porteurs. We all expressed 

 our surprise at this singular mode of travelling ; but what was our astonish- 

 ment to discover that this traveller was a lady. Our irony was at once con- 

 verted into admiration. Was it possible that a lady had crossed the Strali- 

 leck ! She was certainly the first who had attempted so difficult a route. 



It turned out to be an English lady, Mrs C of Edinburgh, accompanied 



by her husband and nine guides. We proceeded to meet them. The lady 



was very young, and seemed very timid ; and Mr C informed us that 



she had nevertheless performed the greater part of the journey on foot, but 

 that her shoes had been torn, and it became necessary for her to be carried, 

 which gave her great annoyance. I invited her to take a little repose, after 

 which the caravan continued its route towards the Hospice of the Grimsel, 

 where it arrived at nine o'clock. 



