Ascent of the Jungfrau in 1841. 309 
fidence is, that M. Hugi has already taken particular notice of 
these rounded forms. The better to shew their importance, 
this naturalist has even published a section of them in his 
work on the Alps*. (Pl. XI.) 
The glacier of Aletsch is in general very smooth; of all 
the Swiss glaciers it is the one having the smallest incli- 
nation (its mean inclination is 2° 58’, according to M. Elie de 
Beaumont). We walked for nearly two hours on the compact 
ice, after which we arrived at the region of fissures, which is 
at the limit between the ice and the névé. This region is 
more than a league broad. The névé which succeeds it is 
the most beautiful in Switzerland. It begins nearly at the 
height of the Faulberg. We can recognise it at a distance by 
a certain air of antiquity, which forms a very striking contrast 
with the sparkling whiteness of the superior fields of snow. 
It is moreover perfectly homogeneous, and without any traces 
of crevices over a space of many square leagues. Its sur- 
. face is depressed and raised at the sides, which is an essen- 
tial character of all the névés. We arrived at half past nine 
at the snow-fields, which commence with the ascent. It was 
here that we made our first halt, at a place which we called 
the Repose, because the passage we had made, and the im- 
mense heights which rose in stages in front of us, naturally 
invited us to take some refreshment. In the mean while, a 
discussion had arisen among our guides respecting the identity 
of the Jungfrau. The Valaisan guide affirmed that it was the 
peak we saw to our right; “ it was, at all events,’’ he said, 
* that which was called the Frauwelihorn” (the name the Va- 
laisans give to the Jungfrau). The other guides, and Jacob 
among the number, asserted, on the contrary, that it was the 
highest of the great summits rising in stages on our left. 
Each brought forward his reasons ; but as I shewed some in- 
clination to acquiesce in the opinion of the Valaisan, Jacob 
was so much hurt that he got into a violent passion, and, throw- 
ing the articles he carried at my feet, declared, that to ques- 
* Tt is known that M. Hugi, who had then no doubts about the connec- 
tion of these polished rocks with the movement of the glacier, looked upon 
them as different, in their mineralogical nature, from the rocks with un- 
altered angles which are lying above them. 
