HUNGAEY. 77 



in summer, but the snow from the upper summit disappears regularly, although, 

 above a height of 6,000 feet, snow-storms occur throughout the year. This rapid 

 disappearance of the snow is attributed to the steep slopes of the mountains. The 

 Tâtra is the boldest mountain mass between the Alps and the Caucasus, and its 

 steep ramparts, vigorous contour, abrupt promontories, and serrated crests present a 

 most striking picture. Though formed of crj'stalline rocks, the Tâtra possesses all 

 the variety of outline usually associated only with sandstone and limestone. 

 There are neither elongated backs nor gentle slopes, and the pastures are of small 

 extent. Wherever the eye ranges it meets with scarped walls and chaotic rock 

 masses rising above a green belt of forests. The peaks of Lomnicz (8,633 feet), 

 and of Késmârk, separated by a narrow gap, known as the "Fork," are amongst 

 its most formidable summits, but they yield in height to the Nakottlu, or Peak, of 

 Gerlachfalva (8,683 feet). 



The number of lakes is very considerable, if we bear in mind the small area 

 occupied by the Tâtra. M. Hradszky enumerates no less than 112. For the most 

 part they are very small, and the largest amongst them, knoAvn as the " Great 

 Lake " (Vielki Stav), does not exceed 85 acres in area. These lakelets, like those 

 of the Pyrenees, occupy cup-shaped cavities in the granite. The natives call them 

 " eyes of the ocean," and fancy that every storm at sea agitates them. Most of 

 them are reputed unfathomable ; in reality, however, their depth is not very 

 great. That of the Pybj- Stav, or Fish Lake, does not exceed 200 feet. 



The Tâtra is not rich in metals, iron alone occurring abundantly, but the 

 natives fancy that immense treasures of gold and precious stones are hidden in the 

 lakes, where they are guarded by toads. 



The Tâtra is surrounded on all sides by mountain ranges of inferior height, 

 which by degrees sink down into the plain. The Little Tâtra (6,703 feet) rises 

 to the south, beyond the valleys of the Vâg and the Poprad. Like the Great 

 Tâtra, it is of granite formation. The Krivân Fâtra, to the west of it, are far 

 lower (5,470 feet), as are also the "Metal Ranges " (6,057 feet). Amongst the 

 foot-hills, more or less detached, which advance like promontories into the plain 

 of the Danube and the Tisza (Theiss), there is but one which exceeds 3,000 feet in 

 height. This is the Matra (3,182 feet), the conical summit of which forms a 

 conspicuous landmark. 



The mountain masses surrounding the Little Tâtra are nearly all composed of 

 eruptive rocks, and the hills rising on the margin of the old inland sea are 

 pierced by igneous rocks. Of all the volcanic districts of Hungary that of the 

 Matra is in the best state of preservation. Matra is said to mean "hearth," with 

 reference either to traditional outbursts of fiery lava, or to burnt- offerings made on 

 the summit of the mountain. The Tâtra, the Fâtra, and the Matra are the 

 historical mountains of the Magyars, and the three peaks on their coat of arms 

 are siipposed to represent them. 



To the east of the gorge of Poprad the main range of the Carpathians 

 stretches towards the south-east. Being composed for the most part of sterile 

 sandstone, this portion of the range is very thinly peopled, except where salt, coal, 



