184 Contributions to Physical Geography. 



which had calmly consigned those lofty regions, and those my- 

 riads of living beings to perpetual ice and oblivion. 



" On the North Eastern frontier of Kunawar, close to the stone 

 bridge, I attained a height of more than 20,000 feet, without 

 crossing snow, the barometer showing 14,320, thermometer 21° 

 at 1 p. M*. Notwithstanding this elevation, 1 felt oppressed 

 by the sun's rays, ihough the air in the shade was freezing. 

 The view from this spot was grand and terrific beyond the 

 power of language to describe. I had anticipated a peep into 

 China itself, but I only beheld its lofty frontier all arid, and 

 bare, and desolate. It was a line of naked peaks, scarce a stripe 

 of snow appearing ; yet every point had an angle of altitude of 

 a few minutes, some half a degree, and at a very considerable 

 distance; this argues at least 21,000 feet." — Gleanings in 

 Science, No. 4. 



3. Account of art Ascent of Mont Elbroutz, the highest peak 

 of the Caucasus^ by a Russian parti/. 



This ascent was performed in July last, by General Em- 

 manouel, Professor Kupffer of Casan, M. Zenz, for physical 

 observations, M. Menetrier, for zoology, and M. Meyer of Dor- 

 pat, for botany. They were guarded by 600 infantry, 350 

 Cossacks, and two cannons, and their baggage was carried by six 

 camels and several carnages. The central chain of the Cau- 

 casus is entirely formed of porphyry. The plateau upon 

 which Mont Elbroutz stands is from 8 to 10,000 feet high, 

 stretching out in the direction of east and west. This plateau 

 is torn up in all directions by narrow and deep vallies, and 

 crossed in its middle, from east to west, by a crest of rugged 

 rocks of a picturesque character, and whose summits are 

 covered with eternal snow. On this crest, and nearly in the 

 middle of its length, there is a large and deep excavation, the 

 middle of which is occupied by a cone which might be supposed 

 to be entirely covered with snow, did we not see here and there 

 the naked rocks appearing through it. This cone is Elbroutz, 

 whose height exceeds, by 3 or 4000 feet, all the surrounding 

 mountains.' 



The party passed the night at the foot of this cone in a 



• The date is not mentioned. Using the mean result for October ob- 

 served in Calcutta, this gives 20,419 feet, as the elevation. — Ed. 



