May 10, 1888] 



NA TURE 



37 



for the party gutta-percha snow-boots, which they put on 

 over fur-lined boots. Thanks to this precaution their 

 feet were kept free from frost-bite. Their leather shoes 

 were of no use ; they had been dried in the sun and hung 

 on a string stretched aloft across the tent. On this string at 

 night were also hung the glasses which are always neces- 

 sary to protect the eyes from ophthalmia in those regions. 

 M. Vallot had also brought coverings for the ears and 

 neck, and linen masks to preserve the skin of the face. 

 Equipped in this manner the aspect of the travellers was 

 curious and even terrifying (Fig. 4). The tent with the 

 various articles hung up, with the boxes of provisions, 

 the blazing stove, and the boiling soup, had a most pictur- 

 esque appearance (Fig. 3). 



The second day was spent in making observations. 

 The provisions were almost neglected ; they never had 

 an appetite during their stay. The different preserved 

 meats, though very tempting, did not entice their 

 benumbed stomachs, and twice each day they took 



nothing but a little preserved bouillon, in which a small 

 piece of cheese had been broken. Their drink was warm 

 coffee ; on the first day tea had made them ill, and they 

 never could take it again during their three days' sojourn : 

 the guides, however, drank a little of it. 



On July 30, the observations began at sunrise. Towards 

 10 o'clock the little colony received a second visitor, an 

 Englishman, who, on his departure, wished to take away 

 with him some letters dated from the top of Mont Blanc. 

 A yellow-beaked crow settled herself time after time near 

 the observers. The guides declared that her presence 

 was a sign of good weather ; but it did not prove so. 

 Towards 2 o'clock enormous clouds began to form on 

 the side of Mont Pelvoux ; then their colour changed ; 

 the gloom turned to darkness ; and while the weather 

 remained fine over Chamounix, the valley of Aosta and 

 the Savoy Alps were soon hidden by a terrible thunder- 

 storm. A furious wind drove the observers into the tent. 

 It was 4 o'clock, and they had almost made up their 



Fio. 4. 



minds to descend, but as there was not time to put all 

 their instruments in safety, they decided to remain and 

 weather the storm. They held the ropes of the tent, and 

 piled snow all around it to keep it steady. Towards 9 

 o'clock, M. Vallot having gone out, found himself sur- 

 rounded by electrical clouds, which played around his 

 clothes and his head, but he escaped any actual shock. 

 During the hours that they thus anxiously passed in the 

 tent they were compelled to close the last opening to pre- 

 vent the snow from getting in. But the time was not 

 spent without profit. M. Vallot made some physiological 

 diagrams. The beatings of the pulse, of the carotid, &c, 

 were to have so much the more interest because they 

 would differ from those which would be obtained when 

 but a short stay is made, the travellers now having been 

 two days at the summit. These observations made them 

 forget their troubles. At last, about 2 o'clock in the 

 morning, the tempest passed away, and, although the 



Fig. 3. 



wind continued to blow violently, they got a refreshing 

 sleep. 



They decided on the following day, July 31, to continue 

 their observations till 9 o'clock, then to bring every- 

 thing into the tent, and to redescend to Chamounix. The 

 guide Payot was suffering from a violent head- ache, with 

 a high fever, and was compelled to keep his bed, but 

 about 1 1 o'clock he bravely offered to descend at once, 

 and even desired to carry his knapsack. M. Vallot had 

 not given orders for help to be sent to take their 

 baggage away ; they therefore left the greater portion be- 

 hind them in the tent ; still there were many things that 

 could not be left. These were divided into bundles, and, 

 with a last glance at the magnificent view, they began 

 the descent. The guide Michel had warned them that 

 this would be very difficult, since last night's storm 

 would have obliterated all traces of the usual paths. And 

 so it was found to be. After the Grand-Plateau, the 



