360 Transactions. — Geology. 



western side of the glacier, where we ascended to a point of 

 observation and studied the view before us. Looking in the 

 direction from whence we had come, a magnificent panorama 

 was presented, for we were in full view of the major part of 

 the Make Bruu Eange with all its glorious peaks and glaciers. 

 We also noticed that the only distant point visible from this 

 spot was the upper part of Mount Sealy, situate at the 

 northern end of the Ben Ohau Eange. The topmost peak of 

 Mount Sefton we had obser\'ed from a point farther down 

 the valley. Tm-ning our attention northwards, we began to 

 realise more than ever the immenseness of the Murchison, and 

 at the head of the eighth or most northerly tributary glacier 

 fi'om the west we discerned what we concluded must be the 

 saddle leading into the Tasman. From this saddle a large 

 rocky spui- descended into the MiU'chison, the head of Schick 

 appeared to he just round its point. The Liebig Eange, on 

 which we now were, soon assumed a northerly and then 

 north-westerly direction, enclosing in the curve several tribu- 

 tary glaciers, one in particular, situate at the centre of the 

 curve, being of considerable magnitude. 



We now decided to stay out for another night, and make 

 every effort to cross the saddle we had noted, and find a 

 sleeping-place in the rocks on the Tasman side before night- 

 fail. We pressed on up the middle of the glacier, endeavour- 

 ing fruitlessly to identify the Make Brun peak or Mount 

 Darwin, whose aspects from the other side were well knov^n 

 to me. When abreast of the saddle we altered our com-se 

 abruptly and made for it. Crossing a small medial moraine 

 (which took its rise at the end of the rocky spur already men- 

 tioned, and was noticeable by its mathematically direct course 

 — indeed, it presented from a distance the appearance of a 

 straight metalled road), we were soon floundering across a 

 perfectly level sloppy field of ice, which was entirely undrained 

 by crevasses, and then commenced the gentle ascent of snow- 

 slopes in soft and dangerous condition. We roped up, to 

 avert danger from covered crevasses, amongst v^-hich we began 

 to thi-ead om- laborious way. The work was very arduous, 

 and tills, added to the fact that one man was suffering ex- 

 treme distress from exhaustion, and another from an over- 

 worked sinew in the leg, m.ade us alm.ost despair of reaching 

 the saddle. To add further to our troubles, a thick mist began 

 to creep over the saddle, accompanied by a keen wind, and we 

 stood in some danger of avalanches, owing to the loose condi- 

 tion of the snow. By dint of the exercise of much persever- 

 ance, and by the aid of many rests, however, we ultimately 

 succeeded in zigzagging upwards amongst a perfect labyrinth 

 of henjschrunds and crevasses, and at last crept up the final 

 pinch to our goal. 



