222 VIOLENT SNOW-STOKM. cii. ix. 



The rain turned to sleet, and before long to snow ; and, 

 though the roughness of the ground still enabled us to 

 discern the more conspicuous plants, it was almost impos- 

 sible to secure satisfactory specimens. 



Soon after the snow had set in, we heard, from below, 

 yells and screams, and immediately guessed that the cara- 

 van from Sous had brought news to our guides at the 

 Saint's tomb of our escapade towards the summit of the 

 pass. The guess was correct ; and though we pushed on 

 father faster than before, the foremost guide soon overtook 

 us, and addressing himself especially to Maw, who led the 

 way during the ascent, with vehement gestures and em- 

 phatic phrases, that seemed to combine threats and in- 

 junctions with supplication, urged an immediate return. 

 Maw judiciously had recourse to an argument of universal 

 efficacy, and, presenting the man with a piece of silver, 

 pointed upwards and strove to explain, by signs, that we 

 meant to go to the top and then return. Shortly after- 

 wards, the second man appeared, panting from the pace at 

 which he had run up the steep ascent. He addressed him- 

 self to Ball, who came next to Maw, but was answered by 

 the same reasoning that had prevailed with his companion. 



The upper part of the ravine was wider than it had 

 been below, and the slope rather less steep. Here, as 

 throughout the upper valley, porphyries and porphyritic 

 tuffs of a prevailing red colour, form the mass of the 

 ridge ; but we observed at several points intrusive masses 

 of diorite, sometimes much resembling granite in appear- 

 ance. Higher up, near the summit of the ridge. Maw 

 noticed white crystalline limestone, of no great extent, 

 which appeared to be intercalated with the porphyrites. 



To collect plants was now scarcely possible, for the 

 snow covered the surface, and it was necessary to kick it 

 away from the tufts of grass or dwarf bushes, in order to 

 ascertain what might be growing beneath. The wind, 

 which had hitherto spared us, now joined itself to the op- 

 posing forces, driving the snow with blinding force, and 



