Ascent of the Jungfrau in 1841. 325 
form of dentelated and jagged ridges, eloquent proofs of the 
mighty convulsion the crust of the earth must have under- 
gone when the Alps were raised. 
The connection between these ridges and the surrounding 
plains of snow appeared to us, from this place, in quite a dif- 
ferent light from that in which it is usually regarded. When 
we say that such a glacier or névé descends from such a sum- 
mit, we always exaggerate the importance of the peak to which 
they are referred ; the ridges are supposed to be an indispen- 
sable condition—a sine gua non—of the glacier, while it often 
happens that they contribute very little to its sustenance. 
They can still less be regarded as lines of separation or water- 
sheds between two different basins; for it is only necessary 
to ascend to a height of 10,000 feet, to be convinced that all 
the plains of snow correspond with each other, and that the 
peaks which, seen from a distance, appeared to us so predomi- 
nant, are in reality only rocky islets rising from an immense 
sea of ice which surrounds them on every side. The brothers 
Meyer have already insisted on this fact, and one is therefore 
the more surprised to see quite a contrary state of things on 
their map, which represents the mountains as great continu- 
ous ridges, establishing marked separations between the dif- 
ferent glaciers. 
While we were making these reflections, the thermometer in- 
dicated — 3° C. (26°.6 F.) intheshade; but we were so engrossed 
with our subject, that we did not feel the cold. Saussure’s hy- 
grometer stood at 67°, notwithstanding the proximity of the 
column of mist I spoke of. The sky over our heads was per- 
fectly clear, and of so deep a blue that it approached to black ; 
we endeavoured to discover the stars in it, which are said to 
be visible during the day at great heights, but we did not suc- 
ceed. It has been pretended that this deep tint is only the 
effect of the contrast with the snowy surfaces which surround 
the observer on all sides. But if this were the case, the in- 
tensity of the hue would be equal in every part of the celestial 
yault. Now, this is precisely what did not take place, for, on 
looking from the zenith to the horizon on the east, where the 
sky was likewise perfectly clear, we saw the azure gradually 
