66 SPARKS FROM A GEOLOGIST'S HAMMER. 



front turned toward Mont Blanc, is the Mont Maudit or 

 Cursed Mountain. This entire range, in the middle ages, 

 was known as the " Montagnes Maudites." They were 

 cursed with eternal snows and sterility in punishment of 

 the sins of the inhabitants of the region. So, at least, 

 other people alleged. Thus, also, in the Pyrenees, the 

 loftiest summit is " Maladetta." 



The principal summit to the left of Mont Maudit, and 

 apparently separated from it by only a shallow depression, 

 is the Mont Blanc du Tacul. Close observation will show, 

 however, that the mass to which this summit appertains 

 is quite separated from Mont Maudit by a col or de- 

 pression, and that its right-hand termination, instead of 

 being Mont Maudit, is an obtuse mountain angle between 

 the two. This is Aiguille de Saussure. Farther to the 

 left, and more in the foreground, are the Aiguilles du 

 Midi. On the northern slope of Mont Blanc we notice 

 two dark ranges of rocky cliffs. These are the Rochers 

 Rouges or Red Rocks. 



From right to left this extensive field is mantled with 

 ancient snows, which have mostly assumed the granular 

 condition known as " firn " or " neve." These are the store- 

 house of glacier material. In places where the mountain 

 surfaces are too precipitous the bare rocks protrude. The 

 field of neve" in general undulates in conformity with 

 the configuration of the mountain face; but in some 

 places we trace perpendicular cliffs of snow, one or two 

 hundred feet in height. One of these, starting from near 

 the crest of the Aiguille de Gouter, angles like the bas- 

 tions of a fortification across the upper limit of the great 

 Glacier de Taconnay. Another snow-wall is revealed, 

 stretching from the foot of Mont Maudit, and still others 



