THE INFLUENCE OF ALTITUDE. 



CHAPTER V. 



Influence of altitude Regions Divine wisdom and benevo- 

 lencePoisonous plants The resurrection. 



THOSE who have ascended mountains, or those 

 who have perused the narratives of the ascent 

 of Mont Blanc, the Peak of TenerifFe, or similar 

 elevations, must be well aware, that, be the 

 temperature of the country at its base ever so 

 warm, a sensible diminution of heat is felt as 

 we rise from the plain ; and in proportion to 

 the height attained the heat diminishes, till at 

 length an elevation is reached, at which, even 

 in the height of summer, water remains per- 

 petually frozen, and nought but snow and ice 

 cover the ground. The point at which this 

 phenomenon first occurs is called the snow line, 

 or limit of perpetual snow. This limit is found 

 at various heights, according to the latitude, 

 nearness to the sea, and whatever else may 

 affect the general climate of the place. 



In the Himalayan Mountains of Asia, and 

 the Andes of South America, the snow line is 

 found at an elevation of 15,000 to 17,000 feet 

 above the level of the sea ; on Cotopaxi, at 

 15,G46 feet; on Chimborazo, at 16,000 feet. 

 More northerly, we find it, on Mount Ararat, 



