DESCRIPTIVE SKI'TCfl OF NEW ZEAI.AXD. 



I 171 



ice beneath our feet was that coming from the Hochstetter Glacier, its lateral moraines 

 marking' off its identity for man)' miles after it had united with the main stream. 

 We counted in all thirty distinct glaciers in sight together, some covered with moraines, 

 others composed of purer ice, and the smaller ones on the Malte Brim Chain, from 

 their insufficient mass, were broken off high up in their ravines, and sent their ice 

 down in avalanches, and their streams in glancing cascades." 



From a shoulder of the Mountain, and less than five thousand feet from its icy 

 crown, the climbers were rewarded with a magnificent prospect. " Deep down beneath 



MOl'NT SKI-TuN AM) THK IIOOKKR KIV'EK. 



us lay the Hooker Glacier, reminding us of the downward view from the arctc of the 

 the Finsteraarhorn ; while beyond, the glacier-seamed crags of Mount Sefton towered 

 skywards. Farther off lay the Mcr dc Glace of the Mueller Glacier, a splendid field of 

 white ice, its lower moraine-covered termination lost in the blue depths of the valley at 

 our feet. The high ridge connecting Mount Sefton with Mount Stokes alone prevented 

 us from seeing the western sea. It was a glorious day, scarcely a breath of air stirring; 

 no cloud visible in the whole vault of blue; ranges upon ranges, of peaks in all direc- 

 tions and of every form, from the ice-capped dome to the splintered aiguille. It was a 

 wonderful sight, those lovely peaks standing up out of the purple haxe, and then to 



