Ascent of the Jungfrau in 1841. 333 
ever, any naturalist happen to pass the night at the same cot- 
tages where we found a sleeping-place, I would advise him not 
to neglect to visit the lake. It is, besides, the only one in 
Switzerland, if I am not mistaken, in which there is floating 
ice. 
At half-past eleven o’clock we re-entered the hospitable 
roof of our good Valaisan shepherds, after a journey which oc- 
cupied us upwards of eighteen hours. As for fatigue, we did 
not feel it even now, so pre-occupied were our minds with all 
the things that had passed under our eyes, and moved our 
hearts, during the day. Next day we descended to Viesch, 
where we met our friend M. Escher de la Linth, who regret- 
ted deeply that he had not arrived some days sooner, that he 
might have accompanied us. On the following day we again 
repaired to Grimsel, to our excellent friend Zippach, who was 
interested in us, more than any other, during our absence. 
With regard to our guides, they left us at Viesch, and we af- 
terwards learned that the two days they spent in their return 
were a continual triumph to them. There was not a hut in 
the valley of Conches, from Viesch to Obergesteln, which they 
did not enter and proclaim their success. 
And now that we have succeeded in this ascent, without ex- 
periencing too much difficulty, do we advise our friends and 
the amateurs of glaciers to follow our steps? To those who 
have perfect confidence in their head and legs, I would say 
without hesitation, “ Go, provided you find good guides; the 
harvest is rich in these regions both for the geologist and na- 
tural philosopher. The whole journey is composed of a series 
of studies, every one of them more interesting than another : 
the glacier of Aletsch, which leads to it, is the most beautiful 
in Switzerland; and if, after traversing it, you succeed in 
reaching the summit of one of those majestic peaks which en- 
circle it, the impressions you will then receive will not soon 
pass away; you will find them always fresh in your memory, 
and the day on which you have contemplated the Swiss plain 
from the height of the Jungfrau will be reckoned among the 
most interesting of your life.” 
VOL, XXXII, NO, LX1V.—APRIL 1842, Z 
