



* Saussure's first Journey was published in 1786 j and this excur- 

 on seems to have been performed in 1781. 



NOME I. MIAGITE. 65 



trin suppose. In the base there are also specks 

 of pyrites, and perhaps a little yellow mica, as 

 Patrin mentions. 



The block found in Corsica was by the French Saussure's 



account. 



mineralogists considered as unique, till the au- 

 thor pointed out to them a clear passage in the 

 travels of Saussure ; whence it appears that this 

 rock was found on the glacier of Miage, long 

 before its discovery in Corsica*. This glacier 

 adjoins to Mount Broglia, on the south-east side 

 of Mont Blanc, where it regards Italy. The 

 whole passage deserves to be transcribed : 



" After a walk of an hour and a half from the 

 luts, I gained the glacier of Miage. This part 

 )f the glacier was then entirely free from snow, 

 ind the ice was of an extraordinary purity; the 

 un from behind projected my shadow, which 

 yenetrating to a great depth in that firm and 

 ransparent medium, produced the most extra- 

 rdinary effect in the world. No crevice op- 

 posed our progress ; while rivulets of clear living 

 yater ran in transparent channels, which they 

 iad formed for themselves. 

 " This singular soil is covered with the most 



