Chapter I. 



NATIVE ^rAltKKT 1\ l(;AM)A. 



(Vitaiiilv IK) one of tlie foreiuinieis of the I)iike of the 

 Ahnizzi liad succeeded in actuallv pxploi'iiii;' tlie chain, tliat is to 

 sav. in ol)taininij,' tlie conipivliensive knowledge re([iiisite ni 

 order to descrihe the L;eiieial foiination of the hne of watershed, 

 the configuration of tlu' mountains, tiie relative height of the 

 (htfereiit jx-aks. their connection with the several \;dlt'ys. and 

 tlie extent and position of the glaciers. 



The cliief (\\'])lorers had ol)ser\'("d that the snow-peaks fall 

 into four distinct groups. It was not known, however, whether 

 these groups were connected hy high ridges or divided hy deep 

 valleys. 



In the ahsence of svsteinatic exploiatioii it was inipossihle to 

 hiiiig Ulto I'clatioii to OIK' another the diH'ci'cnt d<sci-ipt ions of 

 peaks us seen iron 1 diNfrsc points. 'flic confusion hetweeii tlu* 

 .several names gixcn to them mcn\-ist'd the dillicultv of comparing 

 thf dift't-rcnt reports. In addition to all this, it had hecn given 



