Account of an Ascent of Mont Elbroutz. 249 



angle of altitude of a few minutes, some half a degree, and at 

 a very considerable distance; this argues at least 21 ,000 feet." 

 — Gleahitigs in Science, No. 4. 



3. Account of an Ascent of Mont Elbroutz, the hiyhest peak of 

 the Caucasus, by a Russian parly. 



This ascent was performed in July last, by General Era-' 

 manouel, Professor Kupffer of Casan, M. Zenz, for physical 

 observations, M. Menetrier, for zoology, and M. Meyer of Dor- 

 pat, for botany. They were guarded by 600 infantry, 350 

 Cossacks, and two cannons, and their baggage Avas carried by 

 six camels and several carriages. The central chain of the 

 Caucasus is entirely formed of porphyry. The plateau upon 

 which Mont Elbroutz stands is from" 8 to 10,000 feet high, 

 stretching out in the direction of east and west. This plateau 

 is torn up in all directions by narrow and deep vallies, and 

 crossed in its middle, from east to west, by a crest of rugged 

 rocks of a picturesque character, and whose summits are 

 covered with eternal snow. On this crest, and nearly in the 

 middle of its length, there is a large and deep excavation, the 

 middle of which is occupied by a cone which might be sup- 

 posed to be entirely covered with snow, did we not see here 

 and there the naked rocks appearing through it. This cone is 

 Elbroutz, whose height exceeds, by 3 or 4000 feet, ail the 

 surrounding mountains. 



The party passed the night at the foot of this cone in a 

 small hollow, sheltered by enormous blocks of black porphyry 

 with white spots, in the middle of which was a small pool of 

 snow water, but not a trace of verdure, and only a few lichens 

 on the bare rocks. 



Next morning, the 22d July, the party rose at 3 o'clock. 

 The thermometer was at 30° Fahr. and the sky clear. They 

 got upon the snow, and experienced the difficulties and debi- 

 lities which have been so often described in accounts of simi- 

 lar ascents. Towards its summit Elbroutz presents a series 

 of naked rocks forming a species of stair, which greatly facili- 

 tates the ascent. MM. Kupffer, Menetrier, and Meyer, were 

 so exhausted, that they resolved to rest for some hours, but 

 during this delay the snow had grown so soft by the heat of 

 the sun, that it became necessary to return, lest the bridge of 

 snow which crossed the chasm should be melted. M. Zenz, 

 who had gone on without stopping, reached the last platform 

 of rocks, and was removed from the summit only by an interval 

 of snow. The causes which rendered the return of the party 

 necessary prevented them from advancing, and out of fifteen 

 or twenty persons, Cossacks and Circassians, who attempted to 

 reach the summit, only one succeeded, viz. a Circassian of the 



