Ascent of the Jungfrau in 1841. 291 
the expedition, the most confident.assurance of more extended 
success in pursuing the important duties we have yet to fulfil. 
H. M. S. Erxesvus, Van Dizmen’s Lanp, April 7. 1841. 
Ascent of the Jungfrau, accomplished on the 28th August 1841, 
by Messrs Agassiz, Forbes, Du Chatelier, and Desor ; pre- 
ceded by an account of their passage across the Mer de Glace 
Srom Grimsel to Viesch in the Valais. By E.Dzsor. With 
a Plate. 
We resided for three weeks on the lower glacier of the Aar, 
continuing the meteorological and geological observations 
which were the principal object of our stay, and making ex- 
cursions from time to time among the neighbouring mountains. 
We had visited in succession many of the numerous summits 
which surround the Hotel des Neuchatelois. Messrs Agassiz, 
Forbes, and Heath, had crossed the Col de Gauli, and pene- 
trated by the nevé* and glacier of the same name into the val- 
ley of Urbach ; while, for my part, I had traversed the glacier 
of Gries and the adjacent mountain masses. Messrs Forbes 
and Heath, who had been associated with us in our labours 
from the commencement of the expedition, were about to take 
leave of us, in order to descend into the Valais and visit the 
glaciers of Mont Rosa. We accompanied them as far as the 
hospice of Grimsel, that we might sup there together for the 
last time ; and it was here that these gentlemen conceived the 
idea of descending into the Valais by the Mer de Glace, cross- 
ing the Col de l’Oberaarhorn. They proposed to us to accom- 
pany them. This passage is considered one of the most diffi- 
cult in the Oberland ; it was accomplished for the first time 
by Mr Weiss in the beginning of the present century ; by the 
brothers Meyer of Arau in 1812; more recently by M. Hugi, 
in 1832 ; and by several Balois in 1840. It was the only one 
of all the cols pertaining to the mass of the Finsteraarhorn 
which we had not traversed.t Such a proposal had necessa- 
* The meaning of this word, for which we have no corresponding term in 
English, will be better understood by consulting the note on the ice of high 
summits appended to this narrative.—Ep. 
t On the preceding year, we passed the Gixahlegk on our way to Grindel- 
