Barometrical Measurement of Mt. Seward. 



Ill 



tered Ampersand * pond. Looking eastward the mass of the Adiron- 

 dack was seen, a sea of peaks ; nearer, the serrate crest of Mt. Mcln- 

 tyre reared itself; but nearer still was Wallface mountain, viewed not 

 from the east, but from the west ; the reverse slopes descending 

 steeply into a dark but broad valley, which seemed even deeper than the 

 Adirondack or Indian Pass upon the other side of the mountain, 

 yet, though gloomy with precipices, lacking the tremendous cliffs 

 which give so much interest to the more famous gorge. A similar 

 locality, somewhere in this neighborhood, was called by the Indians 

 Ouluska. As Indian terminology is now generally preferred to 

 modern names, I suggest this for the pass discovered. 



The day was clear but cold, and a strongly westerly wind blowing. 

 The hypsometric observations were as follows : 



Hour. 



Barometer. 



Attd. Ther. 



Detd. Ther. 



9 10 



A. M 



25.600 inch. 

 25.600 " 

 25.625 " 

 25.625 " 

 25 . 640 '' 

 25.600 " 



47° Fah. 

 46° '' 

 44° " 

 43° 5 " 

 43° " 

 42° " 



45° Fah. 



9 12 





44° 5 " 



9.15 





43° " 



9. IT 





42° " 



9.20 





42° " 



9.30 





42° '^ - 









The height of the mountain had indeed been over-estimated. Of 

 the 5,100 feet attributed to it, it lacked 638 feet; the elevation as 

 measured being 4,462 feet above tide-level, or the sea. 



The substance of the mountain was found to be labradorite rock ; 

 fragments broken from the summit exhibited crystals of opalescent 

 feldspar, with beautiful play of colors ; magnetic iron also occurred in 

 small fragments scattered through the rock. It was late in the sea- 

 son for botanical observations, but the flora appeared similar to that 

 of the neighboring summits which I have visited. 



Of the provisions carried with us, there now remained only suffi- 

 cient for one light meal. Since leaving the boat, it had taken us 

 two days and a portion of a third to make the ascent, and we were 

 now in the depths of the wilderness. 



About 10 A. M. we commenced the descent, taking a new course 

 west of south, and, under powerful incentives, by dint of rapid and 



* " Ampersand." I believe this to be incorrect etymology, and do not think that it is derived from 

 the and-per-se-and termination of old alphabets ; but attribute the name to the bright, yellow sandy 

 shores and islands, which make it truly Amber-sand lake. 



12 



