PROFESSOR JOHN HUTTON BALFOUR. 53 
placed on short allowance after our hard day’s work, half a 
loaf of bread, some coffee, and a little whisky being all that could 
be procured to satisfy the hunger of eight active botanists. Our 
accommodation for the night was of a novel kind; six of the 
party occupied hammocks swung across a wooden building 
which had been erected near the summit, while two lay on the 
floor. 
Saturday, 14th August 1847. 
Most of the party rose at four, and proceeded to the summit 
of the Ben, where the surveying instruments were placed. From 
this point we contemplated a glorious sunrise, one of the most 
magnificent I ever saw. Our breakfast consisted of the second 
half of the loaf and of some coffee. Some of the party were so 
knocked up with their previous day’s work and with the want of 
food that they resolved to descend the mountain at once and 
make the best of their way to Braemar. Accordingly Messrs. 
Ivory, Hewitson, Gilby, and Balfour left, while Messrs. Morse, 
Murchison, Douglas, and myself continued our botanical 
researches, The want of refreshment during the day and the 
scanty allowance at breakfast had a very weakening effect upon 
all of us. The morning was cold and bracing, and the first part 
of our journey was accomplished with considerable vigour. 
After leaving the summit of the mountain we proceeded towards 
the pass which unites Strathspey and Glen Dee. On the way 
we descended by a steep declivity which rewarded us with many 
good plants, such as :-— 
Cerastium alpinum Sibbaldia procumbens 
Stellaria cerastoides (in a Veronica alpina 
beautiful state) Phleum alpinum 
We visited one of the Wells of Dee in the pass, and then pro- 
ceeded up the Braeriach ridge, gathering on the way—Cornus 
suecica in flower, Hieracia, Luzula arcuata, and other plants. On 
reaching the summit of the ridge we skirted along the upper 
part of the cliffs, which are very precipitous, and seem to be 
worthy of careful examination. Our time only permitted a 
hasty glance. On the summit of the ridge there is a great 
extent of table-land in which there are several sources of the 
Dee, which we visited. The day was oppressivély warm, and 
these cool springs were most refreshing. 
