Ascent of the Jungfrau in 1841. 295 
rather die than not be of the party. No longer insisting, we 
contented ourselves by recommending him to be prudent, and 
could not help indulging in some serious reflections on what 
must have passed in the mind of this man, usually so calm and 
submissive, before he could come to such a resolution as he 
had just announced. 
We were on the summit of the small mountain which rises 
on the margin of the river, when the first rays of the sun 
struck the crest of the high mountains, while their base was 
still shrouded in that crepuscular whiteness which follows the 
setting, and precedes the rising, of the sun. Among the other 
peaks, there was one in the distant horizon which shone with 
surpassing lustre,—it appeared wholly on fire: this was the 
Jungfrau! Our whole company appeared, as it were, electrified 
at this spectacle. ach of us felt his courage increase, and 
from that moment I no longer doubted that we would reach it. 
In two hours we attained the extremity of the Oberaar gla- 
cier. We were surprised to perceive that the glacier, which 
was stationary the year before, was this year yielding to the 
progressive movement which has taken place, for some years 
back, in all the glaciers of the Bernese Oberland. It has 
pushed its moraines considerably forward, particularly the ter- 
minal one, and that on its left flank ; the latter, by encroach- 
ing on the sides of the valley, has completely removed the 
turf, which is cut up and turned over as if it had been fur- 
rowed by a ploughshare. The back of these newly moved 
moraines has a great inclination, a medium of 50° and up- 
wards. Before proceeding farther we went to visit the hut 
of the Oberaar shepherd, which is at a short distance from 
this place. It is impossible to imagine a more wretched 
dwelling: it is a mere kennel, composed of four walls and a 
stone roof, through which the wind blows without mercy. 
The shepherd himself is, this year, a poor little boy of twelve 
years. He was ill-clothed, had a sickly appearance, weak 
limbs, and a stupid expression. Provisions for three months 
had been sent to him from Valais, and they consisted of a cer- 
tain ration of black bread, as hard as the stones of his hut, 
and a little dried up cheese. Some days before, the artist 
of the expedition, Mr Bourckhardt, passing near his hut, gave 
