^ Dr, Homers Account of [Jan. 



ceased, and the air v. as so pure that we saw the lake of Geneva, 

 tnd some more distant objects, very distinctly. 



** We hoped that towards noon the weather would clear up, 

 Init it remained uncertain, and we resolved then to bivouac 

 flgain the following night in our tent a la Cossaque. Coutetsent 

 two of our men to Le Prieure to procure a supply of provisions 

 ■for the guides. At intervals, I occupied myself with reboiling 

 the mercury of one of my barometer tubes, which had been 

 injured on the journey. We tried the temperature of boiling 

 •water, and found it to be 162° of Fahrenheit. 1 made arrange- 

 ments to let oft' some fire-works on returning from the summit, 

 for 1 was curious to try whether the fire-works would rise well in 

 this rare air. I had balls and shining stars prepared with 

 -lirsenic. I had also Bengal fire prepared with antimony; and, 

 ^besides, a mixture of nitre, sulphur, and orpiment, in order to 

 Iry to illuminate all the summit of Mont Blanc, and the spires of 

 the surrounding mountains. 



fJ' ** At five o'clock some hail fell, and until midnight the weather 

 1i(Nis cloudy ; but on the 20th, at one in the morning, the heavens 

 Appeared studded with stars, although the valley was still hidden 

 ^y fog. Coutet went out to observe the weather, and informed 



us that it promised well, but that it would be prudent still to wait 

 '^ little before we decided upon ascending. At about five 

 <'0*clock, the summit was lighted by the sun ; the air perfectly 

 -serene and calm. Our guides informed us that -ve might begin 

 -our journey. M. Selligue, who had been for sometime unwell, 



and who feared the return of the rain before the close of day, 

 <%peferred staying at the Grand Mulet. Two of our guides who 

 ^4ed never ascended Mont Blanc, and whom Coutet wished to 

 •temain with M. Selligue, refused to do so. The weather was 

 ^favourable, and every one was desirous of ascending. At length 



• two other guides consented to stay behind. Messrs. Domford, 

 Henderson, and I, with eight guides, set out from the Grarvd 



"Klulet at 20 minutes past five ; the thermometer was at 34** of 

 ^'Fahrenheit. Having entered upon the snows which were here 

 father deep, we went immediately towards the Aiguille du Goute, 

 afterwards we ascended towards the summit, and almost al- 

 ways in a zig-zag direction, in order to avoid the crevices and 



• Bteep acclivities ; and at a quarter before seven, the summit 

 reappeared on this side." The weather was beautiful ; and, very 

 far beneath us, we saw white clouds, like a calm sea, penetrated 

 here and there by the summits of the highest mountains, the 

 names of which were mentioned by Coutet, les Fours, I'Aiguille 

 ^e Varens, le Buet, le Dent du Midi, le Dent de Morcle, &c. 

 At about seven o'clock these cloudo began to disperse, and we 

 perceived le Prieure. As we continued to ascend, we found the 

 «now harder, and not so deep. No snow seemed to have fallen 



'in these higher parts for some time. 



At 20 minutes past seven we reached the first of three pliit- 



