GLACIAL STUDIES IN GREENLAND. 781 



the crushing or crumpling of this bridging drift, such as might 

 have been expected had the ice pushed forward to any notable 

 degree during the existence of the drift. And again, our tracks, 

 impressed upon the soft crest of the little moraine only a few 

 feet back from the border of the ice during our July visit, 

 remained intact and undisturbed on our visit in September. I 

 could not see any clear signs of thrust or disruption in the inter- 

 val. Beyond question some motion must have taken place, but 

 it was so slight as to fail to indicate itself by such signs as these. 



Ascending from the moraine to the glacier, the terminal slope 

 of the ice becomes a matter of interest, in view of the compari- 

 sons we shall have occasion to make with the glaciers of Ingle- 

 field Gulf, eight and a half degrees farther north. On the saddle 

 between the two minor valleys, or, in other words, in the central 

 part of the end of the glacier, the terminal slope of the ice is so 

 moderate as to admit of easy ascent. In the valleys on either 

 hand the slope is such as to forbid ascent except by resort to 

 the ice axe. On the lateral borders the ascent is again more 

 gentle. In no case however, is there a vertical wall of ice ; the 

 line of ascent is a beautiful curve. Attention is especially invited 

 to this because it is in consonance with glaciers of lower latitudes, 

 but in contrast with the prevailing habit in the far north. 



Within a few rods of the border, a much gentler slope is 

 reached which gradually grows lower until at a distance of 

 perhaps half a mile, it seems even to be reversed and to descend 

 toward the cataract on the border of the ice-capped plateau. 

 Instrumental measures do not however confirm the impression, 

 but such descents in a direction opposite to the movement of 

 the ice do occur, as we shall see presently. 



After leaving the immediate vicinity of the terminal moraine 

 the surface is found to be practically free from pebbles and 

 bowlders. A small amount of dust discolors the surface, a part 

 of which has doubtless been blown upon it and a part of which 

 is probably derived from the ice. A few crevasses traverse the 

 portion of the glacier visited ; but these are mostly small and 

 longitudinal. In the main thev are old and snow-filled. 



