436 OLD ALPINE JOTTINGS. 



scaled the flanking rocks, and were soon in presence of 

 the far-stretching snow-fields from which the lower 

 glacier derives nutriment. With a view to hidden 

 crevasses, we here roped ourselves together. The sun 

 was strong, its direct and reflected blaze combining 

 against us. The scorching warmth experienced at 

 times by cheeks, lips, and neck, indicated, in my case, 

 that mischief was brewing. But the eyes being well 

 protected by dark spectacles, I was comparatively indif- 

 ferent to the prospective disfigurement of my face. 

 Mr. Sclater was sheltered by a veil, a mode of defence 

 which the habit of going into places requiring the 

 unimpeded eyesight has caused me to neglect. There 

 seems to be some specific quality in the sun's rays 

 which produces the irritation of the skin experienced 

 in the Alps. The solar heat may be compared, in 

 point of quantity, with that radiated from a furnace ; 

 and the heat which the mountaineer experiences on 

 Alpine snows is certainly less intense than that en- 

 countered by workmen in many of our technical 

 operations. But terrestrial heat appears to lack the 

 quality which gives the sun's rays their power. The 

 sun is incomparably richer in what are called chemical 

 rays than are our fires, and to these chemical rays the 

 irritation may be due. 1 The keen air of the heights 

 may also have something to do with it. As a remedy 

 for sunburn I have tried glycerine, and found it a 

 failure. The ordinary lip-salve of the druggists' shops 

 is also worse than useless, but pure cold cream, for a 

 supply of which I have had on more than one occasion 

 to thank a friend, is an excellent ameliorative. 



After considerable labour we reached the ridge — 

 a very glorious one as regards the view — which forms 



1 I might have said ' is certainly due.' A powerful 'arc-light ' 

 produces, in a sheltered room, substantially the same effect as the 

 sun. 



