Travels of a Naturalist in the Alps. 301 
it would be, to assign molecular attraction as the cause of mental phe- 
nomena. 
It was one of the principal objects of the traveller to ascend the 
Finsteraarhorn, the highest and most central peak of the Bernese 
Alps, and which rises out of the great ice-sea. Several incidents 
connected with the execution of this undertaking deserve to be noti- 
ced. Two unsuccessful attempts were made before the object was 
accomplished. ‘The following statements relate to the first journey. 
After much fatigue and no inconsiderable danger, from the numerous 
crevices in the glaciers, the party encamped near the foot of the 
peak at an elevation of 10,000 feet, and on the following morning 
commenced their ascent. ‘The snow had become so hard during the 
night as to receive no impression under their feet. Over this they 
were forced to travel some time to reach the ridge. ‘The ascent at 
first was over naked rocks, whose high inclination required the most 
excessive exertion. For the first time in his life, the author says, 
he experienced the pain of thirst, added to which he was near sink- 
ing from fatigue. ‘The only relief to thirst, was found in placing the 
lips upon the rocks wherever any drops of water were seen trickling 
down. ‘Toeat the snow, only aggravated their suffering. Nor was 
it sufficient to drink the freshly melted snow-water; it was requisite 
that it should trickle for some distance over the rocks before it be- 
came refreshing. ‘This he attributes to the absorption of carbonic 
acid from the atmosphere. ‘They were thus advancing towards the 
summit, when suddenly, a powerful gale arose from the west. Not- 
withstanding its violence increased every moment, they still pressed 
forward in the hope of accomplishing the wished-for object ; when 
they were within two hundred feet of the summit, they encountered 
a declivity so steep that they were obliged to cut holes in the snow 
for their hands and feet to enable them to ascend. This detained 
them a long time. The moment, says Huei, was awful, and an in- 
describable expression was visible in every countenance. They 
were on aridge of snow so narrow as scarcely to allow them foothold. 
To the east the Grindelwald ice-sea and the Finsteraar glacier were 
perpendicularly below them, forming a dreadful abyss, and on the 
opposite side a surface of snow, steeper than the steepest roof, de- 
scended among wild crags to the Viescherglacier. From this dan- 
gerous situation Huer with four of his companions resolved to ad- 
vance, while the rest of his attendants were to occupy themselves in 
hewing steps in the snow for their easier descent to the ice-sea. Hav- 
