378 Capt. VndrelVs Account of an [May, 



perceived that these sensations were participated, more or less, 

 by all the guides. One of them, who had for a considerable time, 

 with great labour, crawled along, was left at our departure quite 

 exhausted, and asleep upon his Icnapsack. At seven, we set off, 

 and the difficulties in a very short time far exceeded any that we 

 had hitherto experienced. The route is to the left towards the 

 Rocher Rouge, or east shoulder of the mountain, a more direct 

 ascent being precluded by the formidable precipices of snow 

 which lie between the summit and the Grand Plateau.* The 

 inclination is in many places 50°, and the snow never hardens. 

 The guides complained that since they had last been here, it had 

 greatly accumulated, and some of them thought that all our 

 trouble had been useless, but Couttet was quite certain of suc- 

 ceeding, though we sunk above our knees at every step, and 

 were sometimes immersed so deeply that it was only by much 

 exertion we could extricate ourselyes. The wind, which blew 

 freshly in our faces, increased the difficulty, and obliged us at 

 every rest to turn quickly to leeward in order to inspire freely. 

 I was obliged to limit every advance to 25 paces, and even this 

 produced a painful throbbing, with ^reat acceleration of pulse. 

 It was during this march that I was stj^rprised to see a butterfly 

 upon the wing, and directing his course towards the top of the 

 mountain. His flight, being against the wind, it was conse- 

 quently the effect of choice. This was the only insect we saw 

 {dive, but several dead were picked off the snow. It was nearly 

 10 o'clock before we reached the Rocher Rouge, from whence, 

 on the right, we had a full view of the majestic height which we 

 were now certain of attaining. Here we rested a short time, and 

 soon became quite refreshed. The day was remarkably fine, 

 and the thermometer 41°. We now saw the guide who had 

 been left asleep at the Grand Plateau, slowly making his way 

 after us. Although he was not wanted, he would have deemed 

 his credit lost had he not gained the top ; and as it was, several 

 of his companions expressed great contempt for the " imbecille," 

 as they termed him, such being the spirit which animates these 

 brave fellows. 



The acclivity from the Rocher Rouge f is easy, not above 25°, 



• I cannot gather at what part of the ascent Dr. Du Hamel and his companions met 

 with the deplorable calamity which ended so fatally to poor Carrier, and two other 

 guides, as the account published in the Annals of Philosophy docs not mention at what 

 time the accident occurred. I should fancy it to have taken place shortly after quitting 

 the Grand Plateau, and advancing towards the Rocher Rouge, as there are, or were, 

 for the appearance of the snow is eternally varying, some deep chasms to the left in that 

 direction, with many precipitous masses on the other hand which continue for a consider- 

 able space upwards. Portions of these heaps are frequently detached, and bear every 

 thing before them, when set in motion from the slippery acclivity on which they rest. If 

 my conjecture as to tlie place of the misfortune be well founded. Dr. Du Hamel must 

 then have been more than three hours and a half from the summit of the mountain, 

 "which then seemed so near to him, so difficult is it to judge of distances at these eleva- 

 tions, and with such obstructions to encounter. 



"f- I have preserved tlie appellations given by the guides, who have named almost 



