GLACIER SCENERY. 173 



there, as they opened, patches of deep-bhie sky, or 

 dazzling white snow, until, by degrees, the whole 

 horizon seemed bounded by a continuous unbroken 

 barrier of snowy ridges crowned by towering peaks 

 and majestic summits. 



Imagination can scarcely portray to the mind 

 such scenery, and no description can convey an 

 adequate idea of its stupendous grandeur. The 

 earth has but few similar scenes, and as we gazed, 

 a strange irresistible fascination seemed to steal 

 over our senses, chaining us to the spot — the im- 

 measurable vastness, and absence of any indication 

 of the existence of man, impressing upon us an 

 almost indefinable feeling of awe. Here the whole 

 face of nature bears the stamp of immortality. 

 Seasons never change — unbroken winter ever 

 reigns ! 



Looking upwards, towards the head of the 

 glacier, the prospect was sublime, for we appeared 

 to be standing at the base of an enormous foaming 

 cataract, far exceeding that of Niagara in gran- 

 deur, which had been instantaneously frozen. So 

 strong, indeed, was this resemblance, that as we 



