140 SURVEY OF THE SNOWDON REGION CHAP, v 



In August the advent of two bearded Austrians, 

 with large slouched hats, made some sensation among 

 the peasants of Llanberis. One of these visitors was 

 the distinguished Franz Ritter von Hauer, so long 

 Director of the Geological Survey of Austria, and now 

 head of the great Museum of Vienna ; the other was 

 Dr. Moritz Homes, a well-known Austrian geologist 

 and palaeontologist. They accompanied Ramsay in 

 some of his tramps over Snowdon, and received much 

 Survey information from him for a report they were 

 making to their Government. The diary records the 

 ravenous appetites of the party at the evening meals 

 after long days in the keen mountain air, and speaks 

 of ogres devouring fish and legs of mutton. 



Not the least pleasant episodes in the Llanberis 

 life were the occasional visits of members of the 

 Survey staff. Selwyn, who was stationed at Bedd- 

 gelert, would sometimes work over the hills and spend 

 the evening and night with Ramsay, who in turn 

 occasionally crossed the watershed, and landed in 

 time for dinner at Beddgelert. Edward Forbes, who 

 had recently married, brought his bride to Llanberis, 

 and Ramsay took a room in their cottage while they 

 remained there. But no colleague was so welcome 

 as his worthy chief. On an October evening a car 

 arrived at Llanberis with luggage, but no traveller. 

 Ramsay, however, recognised the old portmanteau, 

 and, sure enough, immediately after up came Sir Henry 

 shouting and making as much noise as possible. 

 They had long consultations together on Survey plans 

 and prospects, and one Sunday the Director-General 

 became specially communicative to his younger asso 

 ciate. The conversation is thus reported : * A walk 

 in the light rain with Sir H., more than usually agree- 



