White. — Snoic Scenes on the Southern AIi^s. 399 



side of that immense inland lake "Wakatipu, their object being 

 the rescue of any sheep which might have been snowed in. 



These ranges, along the top, as seen in smnmer, are mostly 

 run out as narrow as the ridge of a house, the topmost points 

 being more or less perpendicular, and consisting of a yellowish- 

 grey rock, sometimes covered by a minute lichen of a red colour, 

 which will make the rock look a bright red when viewed from 

 a distance ; in more accessible places the ranges are rounded, 

 and covered with broken fragments like road-metal, all of cor- 

 responding size — in one area large, in another place all much 

 smaller, but always of uniform size. The very steep places 

 seldom hold the snow long, owing to the action of the wind 

 and sun. As a rule it is impossible to travel along the actual 

 ridge, but here and there are places which will allow a pas- 

 sage to the other side of the range. 



To return to my story : The two were travelling along, one 

 behind the other, changing places occasionally by the leader 

 falling to the rear, which is requisite in snow-travelling, as the 

 person in advance has the most fatiguing work in breaking 

 down the snow, and so it is advisable to relieve one another in 

 this way. They were near the mountain-top, and moving 

 parallel to the summit, when a crackling noise was heard 

 passing along above them, and almost immediately the sur- 

 rounding snow, with them on top, commenced to slide down- 

 wards, leaving the ground above quite clear from snow. 

 Presently the surface of the moving snow began to undulate 

 and mis up, great newly-made snowballs suddenly consoli- 

 dating as they rushed down over the surface. They were 

 then knocked down and covered up in darkness, but could feel 

 from painful abrasions that the course was still downward, 

 and lively apprehensions were entertained lest they should be 

 carried over some precipice. Luckily this did not occur. My 

 brother was the first to force a way out from under the snow, 

 and looked about anxiously for his companion. Soon a portion 

 of the snow was seen to be violently agitated, and arms and 

 legs appeared, presently followed by their owner. They were 

 more or less sprained and bruised by rough treatment, and caps 

 and sticks were lost ; so they came home with heads tied up in 

 pocket-handkerchiefs, and looked as if they had been engaged 

 in a free fight. ■ _ 



Another avalanche occurred in this manner : I was in chase 

 of some thirty sheep, which were endeavouring to circumvent 

 me by climbing upwards to some steep rocks from which the 

 snow had blown away, and which so looked inviting at a dis- 

 tance, but, of course, were too steep for even a sheep to travel 

 on. I sent my dog after them to head the mob down. He over- 

 took them just below the rocks, turned them, and then I was 

 amazed to see him, with legs stretched out, spinning round and 



