560 TUE GERMAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



the same at the juuction of any streams, into a cliaos of 

 needles and steps. Our ice, exposed to greater periodical 

 and daily differences of atmospheric temperature, becomes 

 very much denser than can be the case in Greenland, where, 

 for the greater part of the year, the low temperature is 

 stationary. Hence the northern glacier-ice is less glassy 

 and dense, possesses greater elasticity, and greater power 

 of passing over steep descents without breaking. 



" Numerous brooks fell spluttering over fathom-deep 

 furrows ; the inclination was about four degrees ; higher 

 up it was more ; in some places twenty ; but nowhere 

 did we need the climbing-irons. The glacier, however, 

 from the numerous side streams issuing from many 

 points, and even at right angles, began to be full of 

 fissures. 



" The greatest stream came from the south, flowiug 

 from a valley surrounded by craggy granite walls. The 

 long undulations were split into close-lying fissures. 

 We floundered from labyrinth to labyrinth, and were 

 forced to make many circuits, and, though sounding 

 carefully, T repeatedly sank to the shoulder, the icy spikes 

 rattling down into the depths like broken glass. The 

 cords to bind us together were indispensable, as we could 

 never, like European Alpine parties, have been got out 

 of the depths. Sometimes we stood all together on a 

 small band of ice, surrounded by a deceitful covering of 

 snow which concealed a dark abyss. 



" In the course of my former labours in the Alps 

 it had been granted me many times to gaze in wonder 

 from heights of 0000 to 12,000 feet upon the ma- 

 jestic beauty of those icy uplands. But what a differ- 

 ence ! Throughout the whole vast prospect lay the 



