“NI 
— 
CHARTER VI. 
CLIFF CLIMBING. 
Alpine climbing—Birdsnesting and mountaineering—Use of ropes—A technical 
knowledge necessary—Uses of a “‘life-line’’—Dislike of mountaineers to 
rope work—Risks of working a rope single-handed—Various uses of ropes— 
Crossing a gully —Life-line and ‘“‘traveller’-—A naval development—Popular 
ideas of using ropes on cliffs—Carrying ropes in wild countries—Alpine Club 
ropes, weights, &c. — Bowline-on-a-bight — Canvas sling — Carrying long 
ropes—The lowering party—Numbers required—Good discipline essential— 
Duties of the “captain” — Posting a lowering party—Use of whistle— 
A simple code of signals—General precautions—Importance of knotting and 
‘seizing ’’—A slippery hitch—Awkward situation—Tyrolean silk rope—Its 
manifold uses. 
HE world-wide notoriety given to all 
matters connected with Alpine ascents 
has made many people imagine that 
k AN climbing is a pastime exclusively en- 
\ ‘A, 
v4 
Ni joyed by those who visit Switzer- 
land or similar mountainous countries. 
In fact that to be a mountaineer it Is 
essential to form one of the band, 
who with the aid of guides and all 
modern appliances annually pene 
trate the eternal snows and attain the 
summits of remote mountain peaks. 
That such performances have great 
charm for many is undeniable and 
I look with the greatest admiration 
and respect on some of the genuine 
