PROFESSOR JOHN HUTTON BALFOUR. 265 
Leaving the Giessbach with reluctance we joined our rowing- 
boats and reached the upper part of the lake, meeting some of 
the party who had gone by steamer to Brienz. 
The party, driving and walking, reached Meiringen in the 
afternoon. Meiringen is a large village of the Oberland at the 
upper extremity of the Obere Hasli-Thal. We went to the 
Pension Ruof, kept by M. Fluchs, but found that he had only 
six beds to spare. M. Guthnick had recommended us to this 
person. It is a good place for a small party. We then went 
to the Hétel du Sauvage, where we found ample accommoda- 
tion. After table d’héte, arranged our plants on paper. 
Tuesday, 17th August 1858. 
At 7 a.m., after breakfast, we left for Grimsel—porter to carry 
baggage and a person who engaged to be guide for three days. 
Saw the Reichenbach Waterfall near Meiringen. Proceeded up 
the valley and gradually ascended to Guttannen. Rested at the 
Chalet of Handeck, about one and a half hours’ walk beyond this, 
After a fatiguing walk we reached the Hospice of the Grimsel 
at 4.30 p.m. 
Wednesday, 18th August 1858. 
At 8.30 a.m., after breakfast at the Hospice, we started on our 
alpine ramble with Fluk Melgior and his brother as guides. 
Passing the end of the little lake called Kleinensee, near the 
Hospice, we proceeded in full botanical equipment to ascend the 
Sidelhorn. 
The boxes and field books were soon replenished with specimens. 
Roots were taken of some of the rarer and more beautiful plants ; 
and some of them, I hope, will ere long flourish in the Botanic 
Garden as memorials of our trip. Our movements up the 
mountain were slow, owing both to the botanising and the heat 
of the day. On reaching the summit of the Sidelhorn we had a 
magnificent view of the Alps; the valley of the Grimsel on the 
one side and the valley of the Rhone on the other. The height 
of the mountain is about 8650 French feet. We then descended 
towards the valley with the view of visiting the Aar glaciers, 
On the part of the mountain nearest the smaller glacier we 
