oiiAP. XVI. ' ANOTHER SARA-URCU: 807 



Same state of things continued all day. A¥ind dropped at night. 

 Min. temp, again 33° '5 Faht. 



Watched for the peaks all day. Saw that the highest point 

 near its summit Avas guarded by pinnacles as steep as the Aiguille 

 du Dru. The face towards the north carried several hanging- 

 glaciers. Frequently heard the roars of avalanches tumbling from 

 them on to the glacier in the crater, the true bottom of which 

 probably lies several hundred feet below the ice. This crater- 

 glacier, in advancing, falls over a steep wall of rock at the head of 

 the Valley of Collanes, in a manner somewhat similar to the 

 Tschingel Glacier in the Gasteren Thai. Some of the ice breaks 

 away in slices, and is re-compacted at the base of the cliff, while 

 part maintains the continuity of the upper plateau with the fallen 

 and smashed fragments. This connecting link of glacier (seen in 

 front) appears to descend almost vertically. 



June 20. From Gamp in the Valley of Collanes to Camp in the 

 Valley of Naranjal. Broke up camp and left at 7.25 a.m.; crossed 

 a small ridge running out of the north-west end of the crater, 

 and descended into the Valley of Naranjal. Spied a big rock 

 surrounded by small trees, and camped against it (13,053 feet). 

 The Valley of Naranjal skirts the outside of Altar on the north. 

 Was told that in six hours it would bring one to the village of 

 TJtufiac. The second peak of Altar was almost exactly due East 

 of camp. 



In afternoon went with Jean-Antoine to the crest of the ridge 

 on the .north of our valley, to try to make out a route and for 

 angles to fix our position. Descended after waiting two hours and 

 seeing nothing. Great quantities of smoke rising from the bottom 

 of our valley. Found camp nearly surrounded by flames — Louis 

 Carrel having set fire to the grass to amuse himself. All hands 

 had to work for an hour to beat out the flames and cut down 

 bushes, and we narrowly escaped being burnt out. Continued 

 windy and misty all night, and nothing could be seen. " This is 

 going to be another Sara-urcu,^^ groaned Jean-Antoine, whose 



