330 THE LIFE OF JAMKS 1). FOltJiKS. [CHAF, 



feet higher than the Col du Geant, and nearly 1,200 feet 

 higher than the Buet, which lies towards the N. W. 

 exactly in the prolongation of the axis of the Glacier du 

 Tour. 



' This unexpected result suggests some interesting con- 

 siderations. There are few spots of the same elevation 

 so easily accessible, and it is unquestionable that some of 

 the numerous peaks which rise from this lofty platform 

 could be ascended without risk, to a height of some 

 hundred feet more. The rocks hemming in the Glacier 

 du Tour, present shelter against the severity of the terrific 

 gales which blow at these altitudes. An observer might 

 be stationed here for meteorological observations, with a 

 degree of security and ease which Saussure never enjoyed 

 in his perilous encampment on the Col du Geant. Pro- 

 visions could be regularly obtained from the elevated 

 station of the Col de Balme, which is within a walk of 

 which a mountaineer thinks little, arid devoid of danger. 

 Even the extent of surface which the mountains here 

 present at so great a height, is itself very favourable t 

 several kinds of observation. 



' I have called the fact of the great elevation of this 

 part of the chain of Mont Blanc unexpected, both been 

 it was entirely so to myself, and because the existing 

 maps and models gave an entirely different idea. Even 

 the admirable model of M. Sene, which I inspected soon 

 afterwards at Geneva, shows a rapid depression in this 

 part of the ridge, which indeed might have been imagined 

 from the rapidity with which it dies out altogether in the 

 space of a few miles in the direction of Martigny. 



' The temperature of the air, as we have seen, was 

 three degrees (Fahrenheit) below freezing. As we 

 turned r3und and, facing the north wind, clambered 

 from under the sheltering snow drift, we first perceived 

 its biting coldness, and at the same moment the strong 

 draught of air satting through the gorge, nearly detached 

 all our hats in a moment, and actually carried Balmat's 

 over the precipice down to the glacier of Salena. We 

 were then struck, whilst looking in each other's faces, at 



