Report of a Journey Around the World. 



213 



and strolled up a near valle}', climbing over a moraine and up until 

 I got a fine view of Mt. Sefton with its ice-wall and frequent ava- 

 lanches. It was not easy walking, and I doubt if the exercise did 

 me much good. Few flowers were seen, but some interCvSting rock 

 and tree lichens and two attractive ferns. Moraines are not to my 

 taste as pavements. I, however, had a better opportunity than 

 ever before to note the action of ice and pulverized ice in the rapid 

 erosion of these mountains. Avalanches at the rate of three or 



16: 



MT. COOK. 



four in an hour; the "dust" arising like smoke, the powdered ice 

 descending the steep ravine, often by leaps, closely resembled milk, 

 and although dry as snow seemed from the distance a perfect fluid. 

 On my return the rain began to fall and continued most of the 

 afternoon. The ladies had planned to cross the pass to the west 

 coast with Peter Graham and his brother, and in spite of the 

 weather started after tea on foot for a twenty mile walk to the hut 

 where they were to pass the first night. A bright wood fire was 

 most comfortable in the parlor and I ate my dinner alone. The 

 night closed in still raining steadily. 



Thursday, Nov. 7. Bright and clear. After a solitary break- 

 fast Mr. Cook and I walked to Hooker Valley, crossing the rather 



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