Further Exploration of Centre Valley 



our road blocked by an impassable crevasse, and had to 

 retrace our steps. 



We had almost given up hope of being able to make 

 our way on to the ice above the fall, and were seriously 

 considering the alternative of climbing along the pre- 

 cipitous rocks on the side of the valley until the 

 obstruction should be passed, when we were successful 

 in finding our way through by means of an ice-bridge, 

 a pinnacle which had fallen across the largest of the 

 crevasses and had become firmly frozen into position. 



This saved us much trouble, as to find a route along 

 those precipitous cliffs was, as we found on a subsequent 

 occasion, both difficult and hazardous. 



The surface of the ice above the fall was very 

 similar to that below, except that at this higher level 

 there was some fresh snow upon it, and in consequence 

 we had to proceed with great caution to avoid concealed 

 crevasses. 



There were three rock-trains on this section of the 

 glacier, one at each side and one near the centre. The 

 central one consisted entirely of fragments of a peculiar 

 granite containing large flakes of the white mica, mus- 

 covite, and on tracing it farther upstream we found 

 that it originated in the centre of the glacier. At its 

 point of origin there were only one or two blocks on 

 the surface, but others could be seen through the ice a 

 few inches below it, and it was evident that the rock 

 was being picked up by the ice at some point below 

 the surface, and being brought to light by the melting of 

 the surface layers. 



As we stood below the point of origin of the rock- 

 train, looking towards the snowfield above, we noticed 



271 



