A EECOXXAISSANCE IX FORCE. 187 



as a suitable goal for our morning walk. The way 

 to it lay up a broad grassy ridge adorned by rhodo- 

 dendrons with large white flowers, several kinds of gen- 

 tians, and many other plants which lack of botanical 

 knowledge prevents my naming. We had not underrated 

 Alexis' capacity : so long as the way lay over grass he went 

 well enough, but on reaching the snow he stopped 

 abruptly, and declined to go any further, so we left him 

 with Paul at the foot of the final ascent. A climb up 

 steep snow-slopes succeeded by easy rocks led to the 

 summit, which was more of a ridge than a peak, and over 

 10,000 feet in height. Kazbek was now directly opposite 

 us, a long glacier streaming round its soath flank, and 

 ending at our feet. From this point of view we saw the 

 second or western summit, which (totally invisible from the 

 station) here appears equal m height to the eastern. 

 This was a source of perplexity. Opinions were divided 

 as to the relative claims to superiority of the two peaks ; 

 and although the majority were inclined to award the 

 palm to the eastern summit, there was sufiicient doubt 

 about the matter to leave us all well pleased at the dis- 

 covery, that from the glacier on the southern flank of the 

 mountain, the gap between the two peaks appeared to be 

 accessible by a series of crevasse-broken but easily sur- 

 mountable slopes, merging in a steep wall of snow or ice, 

 only partially visible, and as to the exact character of which 

 it was difficult to judge accurately. As any mistake with 

 regard to the real culminating-point would be very annoy- 

 ing, and it was clear that, once on the ridge, we should 

 have only to tmm right or left, as might seem advisable, it 

 was unanimously agreed that this route should be tried — 

 an additional argument in its favour being supplied by 

 the evident existence, high up on the left bank of the 

 glacier, of several excellent sites for a bivouac. 



