234 FRAGMENTS OF SCIENCE. 



particularly when charged with solid matter in suspen- 

 sion, can cut a channel through unfissured rock. Cases 

 of deep cutting can be pointed out where the clean bed 

 of the stream is exposed, the rock which forms the 

 floor of the river not exhibiting a trace of fissure. An 

 example of this kind on a small scale occurs near the 

 Bernina Gasthaus, about two hours from Pontresina. 

 A little way below the junction of the two streams 

 from the Bernina Pass and the Heuthal the river flows 

 through a channel cut by itself, and 20 or 30 feet in 

 depth. At some places the river-bed is covered with 

 rolled stones; at other-places it is bare, but shows no 

 trace of fissure. The abstract power of water, if I may 

 use the term, to cut through rock is demonstrated by 

 such instances. But if water be competent to form a 

 gorge without the aid of a fissure, why assume the ex- 

 istence of such fissures in cases like that at Pontresina? 

 It seems far more philosophical to accept the simple 

 and impressive history written on the walls of those 

 gorges by the agent which produced them. 



Numerous cases might be pointed out, varying in 

 magnitude, but all identical in kind, of barriers which 

 crossed valleys and formed lakes having been cut 

 through by rivers, narrow gorges being the conse- 

 quence. One of the most famous examples of this kind 

 is the Finsteraarschlucht in the valley of Hasli. Here 

 the ridge called the Kirchet seems split across, and 

 the river Aar rushes through the fissure. Behind the 

 barrier we have the meadows and pastures of Imhof 

 resting on the sediment of an ancient lake. Were this 

 an isolated case, one might with an apparent show of 

 reason conclude that the Finsteraarschlucht was pro- 

 duced by an earthquake, as some suppose it to have 

 been; but when we find it to be a single sample of 

 actions which are frequent in the Alps when prob- 



