Account of an Ascent of Mofit Elbroutz. 135 



small hollow, sheltered by enormous blocks of black porphyry 

 with white spots, in the middle of which was a small pool of 

 snow water, but not a trace of verdure, and only a few lichens 

 on the bare rocks. 



Next morning, the 22d July, the party rose at 3 o'clock 

 The thermometer was at 30° Fahr. and the sky clear. They 

 got upon the snow, and experienced the difficulties and debi- 

 lities which have been so often described in accounts of similar 

 ascents. Towards its summit Elbroutz presents a series of 

 naked rocks forming a species of stair, which greatly facilitates 

 the ascent. MM. Kupffer, Menetrier, and Meyer, were so 

 exhausted, that they resolved to rest for some hours, but dur- 

 ing this delay the snow had grown so soft by the heat of the 

 sun, that it became necessary to return, lest the bridge of snow 

 which crossed the chasm should be melted. M. Zenz, who 

 had gone on without stopping, reached the last platform of 

 rocks, and was removed from the summit only by an interval of 

 snow. The causes which rendered the return of the party 

 necessary prevented them from advancing, and out of fifteen 

 or twenty persons, Cossacks and Circassians, who attempted to 

 reach the summit, only one succeeded, viz. a Circassian of the 

 name of Krillar, who, inspired by the reward which General 

 Emmanouel had offered, set off very early, and availed him- 

 self of the morning's frost. 



The descent was extremely difficult from the cause already 

 mentioned, and at seven o'clock in the evening they reached 

 their camp on the banks of the Malka. 

 M. Zenz obtained the following results - 



French feet. 

 Height of the mineral springs of Koustantirogorrk, 1300 



^— <- of the limit of snow, - _ 1 0,400 



of the first station of rocks, - 13,600 



of the station of M. Zenz, - 14,800 



of the summit * above M. Zenz's station, 600 



total height of Elbroutz, - 15,400 



The temperature of the air at the limit of snow was 9*^ 6 



* Taken with a micrometer. 



