Ascent of the Jungfrau in 1841. 301 
vices at the point of contact, we took nearly an hour to accom- 
plish it, although its breadth is not greater than a quarter of 
a league. A little below this confluence, the glacier of Viesch 
begins to assume that irregular appearance which gives it the 
character of being one of the most varied in the Valais. Not 
far from this place, the first needles of ice appeared, and they 
seem here to be intimately connected with the median moraine; 
for even where the whole surface of the glacier is cut into 
small pieces, the needles along this moraine are remarkable 
for their bolder and more prominent shapes. 
It was here, on the right side of the glacier, at a distance 
of about three hours from the village of Viesch, that we en- 
countered the most difficult passage. We had to decend 
a wall of rock, nearly vertical and very high, at the foot of 
which fell a beautiful cascade. The path was a kind of opening, 
which presented here and there some slight projections on which 
the foot rested. When these points of support were insuffi- 
cient, the passenger was obliged to cling, in the best way he 
could, against the walls of the opening, assisting himself with 
his pole, which is always ready to lean upon ; or he was forced 
to call for the help of one of the guides—a step, however, 
which his self-love made him unwilling to adopt. When we 
were again on the glacier, and looked at the descent we had 
accomplished, it seemed impossible that this could be the road 
the shepherds usually take. But Jacob assured us that there 
was no other. We were still at a greater loss to understand 
how they got their sheep across ; Jacob knew nothing of the 
matter himself, but still maintained that they ascended by 
this passage. We were afterwards informed at Viesch that 
this is really the only way to the upper pastures, and that they 
hoist up the sheep by means of ropes tied to the horns, or, 
when the latter are wanting, round the neck. The shepherds 
themselves do not often pass this way. When the sheep are 
once over it, they are left to themselves till the autumn, and 
are only visited by a shepherd from time to time, for the pur- 
pose of conveying salt to them. 
We had many opportunities, along the glacier of Viesch, of 
determining the manner in which the glacier polishes its banks. 
The predominating rock is gneiss, sometimes in fine grains, 
VOL. XXXII, NO, LXIY,—APRIL 1842. x 
