AN ALPINE FLORA 185 



in every direction. The flora here was quite of the 

 Alpine type: pink androsaces, saxifraga. violets, asters, 

 and other plants of elevated regions grew profusely 

 between the numerous patches of snow. As we 

 adv^anced, we struck several sheep-paths with old 

 tracks and droppings, but, though my Zeiss freely 

 examined all the surrounding corries, which presented 

 favourable aspects and afforded capital grazing, there 

 was no sign of Ovis iiivicola. In addition to this, 

 it was perfect torture to use the binocular for spying 

 on account of the mosquitoes, which would instanta- 

 neously settle on one's hands and unveiled face, merci- 

 lessly attacking any unprotected part. In this manner, 

 after a couple of hours' walk, we reached the summit 

 ot a rounded boulder, commanding a view of vast 

 tracts of moor and snowfields. My aneroid now 

 showed an altitude of 4,000 feet. The scenery I had 

 before me was of unsurpassed beauty. At my feet 

 trickled from beneath accumulated masses of hard 

 snow a small rivulet Howing into a lovely turquoise- 

 blue lake, on which floated large glittering icebergs. 

 Towering above the eastern shores of the lake rose 

 the massive cone of the Kamchatskaia X'ershina, with 

 gloomy rocks piercing its snow garment ; and lower, 

 craggy ranges running east and west, all converging 

 towards the main central peak. A majestic silence 



