1865.1 BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 459 



A FEW NOTES ON THE STRUCTURE OE THE MATTERHORN. 



BY E. WHYMPER. 



When one observes the great peak of the Matterhorn at a 

 short distance, it is seen that its rocks are separated into three 

 great divisions, of which the middle mass is the largest, and 

 grey in color, while the upper and lower sections are apparently 

 of a dull red. On ascending the mountain, these divisions are so 

 clearly apparent, and the junctions of the sections are so marked, 

 that it is almost possible to see the lines of separation. The rocks 

 on the upper and lower divisions, however, it is found, are by no 

 means uniformly red in color, but are interspersed with others of a 

 green and of an iron grey. It is from the red rocks being so much 

 more positive in tone that they present a uniform tint when seen 

 at a distance. The specimens collected comprise fragments from 

 «ach of these divisions. Those taken from the summit were de- 

 tached when collected, but others were broken from the living rock. 

 After exhibiting specimens of the rock, the writer went on to say : 

 The summit of the Matterhorn is a roughly-lined ridge of 350 feet 

 to 400 feet in length. It is extremely precipitous on one side; but 

 on the side which descends towards the glaciers of Zmutt the in- 

 clination is moderate, and it can be traversed with great facility. 

 There are several little points on this side, and the highest of them 

 is usually covered by a small cone of snow. The whole of the 

 summit is covered with disintegrated fragments, and the living 

 rock is not anywhere visible. It was observed by De Saussure that 

 the beds of the Matterhorn rise towards the N. E. at an angle of 

 45°. This is scarcely exact, although correct on the whole. They 

 dip towards the south and west; but the inclination towards the 

 west is three times as great as it is to the south. In consequence 

 of these dips, the plane surface of the beds presents a surface slop- 

 ino- downwards on the western and southern sides of the mountain, 

 and the fractured edges overhang each other. It is mainly from 

 this cause that so much difficulty has been experienced in all 

 previous endeavors to ascend the mountain; and it was from 

 observing this fact that I formed the resolution to attempt the 

 ascent by the north-western face ; for although it appeared smooth 

 and unbroken, yet I argued that the fractures would fall in exactly 

 the reverse manner to that which I have described, and this would 

 render the ascent easy, even although the hold they might afford 

 should be but small, The theory was correct, and the whole of 

 the north-eastern face was found to be in, fact, a long staircase, with 



