XXVlll 



Unfortunately the whole of these stations were swept away by ava- 

 lanches during the following winter, except the one on the summit, 

 which was seen to be intact next summer by the only mountaineer 

 who made the ascent during that extremely unfavourable season. 

 Probably this gentleman was too much occupied in admiring the 

 grandeur of the surrounding scene to think of the importance of an 

 observation of the minimum winter temperature at this great eleva- 

 tion. At all events he neglected to read off the self-registering 

 instruments, and thus the expedition, so far as thermometric observa- 

 tions are concerned, was abortive. Nevertheless, it was not in other 

 respects altogether unrewarded, as certain remarkable physiological 

 and physical effects were observed during our stay of twenty-two 

 hours on the summit of the mountain. 



Almost immediately after arriving there, Tyndall became ill ; he 

 complained of headache, a burning sensation in the brain, and general 

 lassitude, and expressed his belief that he was about to be seriously 

 unwelL Scarcely half an hour bad elapsed before all the guides and 

 porters, >nine in number, who had remained at the summit, complained 

 loudly of headache, and expressed a strong desire to lie down and 

 rest. Accordingly the erection of our tent was at once proceeded 

 with. About 12 ft. below the summit of the ridge, and on its south 

 side, a circular level plateau, about 10 ft. in diameter, was excavated 

 in the snow, so as to form a level floor for the tent, the setting up of 

 which did not occupy more than half an hour. As soon as it was 

 ready, we were all glad to creep into it, the sun having become 

 shrouded with fleecy clouds, which at once transformed the hitherto 

 pleasing temperature into the piercing cold of a severe winter. The 

 north wind had also increased in force, filling the air with clouds 

 of snow blown from the terminal ridge of the mountain, and rendering 

 exposure outside the tent by no means pleasant. 



The cold blast of the north wind was not the only reason why the 

 interior of our tent was so welcome, the general lassitude that had 

 seized upon us all rendering lying down, even upon a bed of hard 

 snow, a matter of urgent necessity. The indisposition of the whole 

 party continued to increase ; especially was this the case with Tyndall, 

 who complained of fever, excessive thirst, and intense pain in the head. 

 His pulse kept up to 100, but this was less alarming than the other 

 symptoms, since the writer's own kept steadily at 120, although he 

 was comparatively well during the first four hours of his sojourn upon 

 the summit. Then a general lassitude stole over him also accom- 

 panied by headache. 



Tea was the only liquid which was acceptable to us during the 

 whole time of our stay on the summit. We had wine and brandy in 

 abundance, but no one desired them ; even champagne had a nauseous 

 taste, and was far less acceptable than tea. For solid food there was 



