ALPINE SCULPTURE. 235 



ably a hundred cases of the same kind, though different 

 in magnitude, can be pointed out it seems quite un- 

 philosophical to assume that in each particular case an 

 earthquake was at hand to form a channel for the river. 

 As in the case of the barrier at Pontresina, the Kirchet, 

 after the retreat of the Aar glacier, dammed the waters 

 flowing from it, thus forming a lake, on the bed of 

 which now stands the village of Imhof . Over this bar- 

 rier the Aar tumbled towards Meyringen, cutting, as 

 the centuries passed, its bed ever deeper, until finally 

 it became deep enough to drain the lake, leaving in its 

 place the alluvial plain, through which the river now 

 flows in a definite channel. 



In 1866 I subjected the Finsteraarschlucht to a 

 close examination. The earthquake theory already ad- 

 verted to was then prevalent regarding it, and I wished 

 to see whether any evidences existed of aqueous ero- 

 sion. Near the summit of the Kirchet is a signboard 

 inviting the traveller to visit the Aarenschlucht, a nar- 

 row lateral gorge which runs down to the very bottom 

 of the principal one. The aspect of this smaller chasm 

 from bottom to top proves to demonstration that water 

 had in former ages been there at work. It is scooped, 

 rounded, and polished, so as to render palpable to 

 the most careless eye that it is a gorge of erosion. 

 But it was regarding the sides of the great chasm that 

 instruction was needed, and from its edge nothing to 

 satisfy me could be seen. I therefore stripped and 

 waded into the river until a point was reached which 

 commanded an excellent view of both sides of the 

 gorge. The water was cutting cold, but I was repaid. 

 Below me on the left-hand side was a jutting cliff 

 which bore the thrust of the river and caused the Aar 

 to swerve from its direct course. From top to bottom 

 this cliff was polished, rounded, and scooped. There 



