O. W. Bulman — Glacial Geology. 407 



And Colonel Tanner, in his description of a Himalayan glacier, 

 shows how vegetation and ice-action may overlap. The following 

 passage occurs in a paper read before the Geographical Society 

 (see Nature, April 30th, 1891, p. 622) :— 



"Speaking of the Himalayan glaciers, Colonel Tanner stated that 

 the most extensive and picturesque he has ever seen are in the Sat 

 valley, which drains the southern face of the Rakaposhi mountain in. 

 Gilgit. Three great glaciers come down into this valley, and 

 dispute with the hardy mountaineers for the possession of the scanty 

 area of the soil. Here may be seen forests, fields, orchards, and 

 inhabited houses all scattered about near the ice heaps. The only 

 passable route to the upper villages in this valley crosses the nose 

 of the greatest of the three glaciers, and threads its way over its 

 frozen surface. This glacier is cut up into fantastic needles of pure 

 green ice, some of which bear on their summits immense boulders. 

 About half a mile from its lower end or nose. Colonel Tanner found 

 an island bearing trees and bushes, and at one place above this 

 a very considerable tarn of deep blue-green water. The glacier had 

 two moraines parallel to it and with each other, and both bearing 

 pine trees." 



Dr. Wright also describes the close proximity of glaciers and an 

 abundant flora and fauna in North America at the present day : 



"The mountains on each side of Muir Inlet rise immediately from 

 the water from three thousand to five thousand feet. These we 

 often ascended, and were thus permitted repeatedly to behold one of 

 the most marvellous views anywhere to be found in the world. 

 At that season the level places around our feet upon these summits 

 were carpeted with soft green grass, interspersed with large areas of 

 flowers in full bloom. Here were extensive, gorgeously-coloured 

 flower-beds, where bluebells, daisies, buttercups, violets, the yellow 

 arnica-flower, and the purple epilobium, were striving for mastery 

 or for recognition. On the northern slopes of slight elevations great 

 masses of snow were preserved in the very midst of these brilliant 

 flower-gardens, and from their melting, clear little pools of water 

 were on every hand inviting us to drink. The tracks of the 

 mountain goat, the mountain lion, and of various smaller animals, 

 and the songs of birds witnessed to the abundance of animal life. . . . 

 In such a setting of grandeur and beauty we gazed upon the full 

 face of the great glacier itself lying at our feet. Below us its 

 diminishing outlet disappeared in the waters of the bay. Distance 

 made the rough places plain, and lent enchantment to the view. 

 Down from the mountains in every direction from the north came 

 the frozen torrents ; — 



Glaciers to the right of us. 

 Glaciers to the left of us. 

 Glaciers in front of us, 



Volleyed and thundered — 



pouring into a vast amphitheatre, and then uniting their volumes, 

 preparatory to their exit through the entrance into Muir Inlet." ^ 



1 Ditto, pp. 37-39. 



