Life and Writings of Theodore de Saussure. 9 



morning is the time of greatest elevation, then the mercury 

 descends till 4 o'clock, when it again begins to rise. The hour 

 of noon is the time when the mean heights of three stations 

 are nearest, and it is an important point to be acquainted with, 

 in measuring heights by means of comparative barometrical 

 observations. They saw at their station only a single plant in 

 flower, the Aretia helvetica, forming in sheltered places tufts 

 of flowery turf of a white or purple colour, and eight lichens. 

 Of living creatures they saw only three chamois, a black spider 

 living beneath the stones of their hut, a wood-pecker, and a 

 snow-bunting; and, lastly, some jackdaws, which were pursuing 

 over the glacier the butterflies, flies, and tipulas, carried thither 

 by the wind. 



It will be readily understood what life must have been in 

 such an encampment, where the snow fell frequently, where 

 the cold during the night and in bad weather was intense, and 

 where the little coal the travellers had with them, and which 

 they kindled in chafing dishes, would scarcely burn on account 

 of the rarity of the air. Accordingly, the guides, who had not 

 the stimulus of constant labour, and the gratification of scienti- 

 fic curiosity, desired nothing so much as to see the signal given 

 for departure. It had been agreed that they should start on the 

 morning of the seventeenth day. The evening which preceded 

 it was magnificent. The snow of the surrounding heights 

 shone resplendently with tints of rose and carmine colour ; on 

 the Italian side, a curtain of brilliant purple was extended. 

 The rays of the full moon subsequently appeared shining 

 through a limpid and transparent atmosphere, like that, says 

 Horace Benedict de Saussure, which Homer supposes to sur- 

 round Olympus. The mild light of the moon, reflected from 

 the ice and snow, brought out in stronger relief the abrupt 

 forms and black hues of the rocks, sharply defined on their sur- 

 faces, as well as the sombre and darksome vapours which seemed 

 to fill the valleys. Theodore de Saussure expressed, with the 

 warmth and enthusiasm of his age, the admiration with which 

 this splendid spectacle inspired him, and the bitter regret he 

 felt at leaving scenes which could give such pure and noble 

 enjoyments. These regrets, on being understood by the guides, 

 had a singular effect ; during the night which followed this 



