cu. IX. SU3IMIT RIDGE OF THE ATLAS. 223 



making the cold, already severe, well nigh intolerable. 

 The poor fellows who had for some way followed us with- 

 out further remonstrance, now renewed with redoubled 

 energy their appeal that we should return. Kissing the 

 hem of our coats at one moment, brandishing their arms 

 with passionate gestures, or actually pulling us back at 

 another, they really impressed us more by their pitiable 

 appearance, exposed with the slightest covering to the 

 bitter blast, their feet and bare legs cut and bleeding 

 from the rocks and thorny bushes of the way. 



It was now apparent that the dread with which these 

 men were evidently impressed did not arise solely from ap- 

 prehension of an encounter with human enemies. Firmly 

 believing that the heights of the Atlas are inhabited by 

 cljiniift, or demons, it was obvious to our companions that 

 the storm was caused by their anger at the intrusion of 

 strangers into their sanctuary. We had not before noticed 

 that one of the Shelluhs carried with him a live cock under 

 his arm. In a state of the utmost excitement, he now pro- 

 ceeded to cut the animal's throat, in order thus to appease 

 the wrath of our supernatural foes, then renewing the 

 appeal to us to forego further provocation. 



In emphatic English, and such pantomime as we could 

 command, we explained that we were determined to reach 

 the top, but would then immediately return, and pro- 

 ceeded to face the last jDortion of the ascent. This lay 

 through a broad couloir, some twenty to thirty feet wide, 

 between steep walls of rock where, on narrow ledges giving 

 scarcely any hold for snow, the last plants were collected. 

 The storm, now almost a hurricane, raged with increasing 

 violence ; it was scarcely possible to face it, and our hands 

 and feet gave scarcely any token of sensation. The ther- 

 mometer, though carried in a pocket, marked 25° Fahr. 

 (or about — 4° Cent.) when last observed. Maw pushed on 

 with increasing vigour, and, in the driving snow, was soon 

 lost to sight. Presently, shouts were heard, and he re- 

 appeared, saying that he had reached the ridge where the 



