G34 THE UNIVEKSE. 



lords it over the chain of Thibet and towers to a height of 

 above 29,000 feet/ men have been forced to greet it as the 

 king of tlie mountain drains. 



Yet notwithstanding its positive height, this imposing 

 mass forms a scarcely jjerceptible elevation on the surface 

 of the globe. An attempt has been made in works on 

 geology to give an idea of this fact by repeating, that the 

 loftiest mountains on the earth produce on it asperities 

 comparable to those of an orange. But the comparison is 

 far too forced, for the highest mountain chains on the globe 

 only form on its surface projections equal to those of a 

 grain of sand, or a demi-millimetre (about -^ or -019685 

 inch), on a sphere six feet in diameter 



When we revert to the vast commotions which took 

 place at the upheaval of mountains, and to their geological 

 constitution, we feel at once that their lofty summits must 

 present very varied aspects. This is the case. Some 

 mountain chains, like those of Calabria, have crests toothed 

 like saws; others resemble pointed crystals, as is seen in 

 Savoy, Avhere on this account they are called aiguilles. 

 Often the tops are rounded and form a succession of 

 paps; finally at other times, as for instance is seen in the 

 peaks of Tierra del Fuego, these asperities of the globe are 

 perfectly conical, slender and pointed, exactly like gigan- 

 tic sugar-loaves. 



The exploration of lofty mountains is not always free 

 from danger. But the deplorable accidents of which they 

 become the theatre, are often due to the imprudence of 

 travellers who attend little to the advice of their guides. 

 A good guide holds in his hands the lives of those who 

 accompany him; it is therefore necessary to make a careful 

 choice and to treat him kindly. I have always done so, 



1 The Kaurisaukar, or Mouut Everest, is 29,002 feet high. 



