Jan. 1849. FUNDIM CLIFF. NURSING. 347 



all directions through the gneiss, and form parallel 

 seams or beds between the laminae of that rock, united by 

 transverse seams, and crumpling up the gneiss itself, like 

 the crushed leaves of a book. The summit of Pundiin 

 itself is all of white rock, rounded in shape, and forming a 

 cap to the gneiss, which weathers into precipices. 



A succession of ridges, 14,000 to 18,000 feet high, 

 presented a line of precipices running south from Pundim 

 for several miles : immense granite veins are exposed on 

 their surfaces, and they are capped by stratified rocks, 

 sloping to the east, and apparently striking to the north- 

 west, which, being black, contrast strongly with the white 

 granite beneath them : these ridges, instead of being round- 

 topped, are broken into splintered crags, behind which rises 

 the beautiful conical peak of Nursing, 19,139 feet above 

 the sea, eight miles distant, and subtending an angle 

 of 8° 30'. 



At the foot of these precipices was a very conspicuous 

 series of lofty moraines, round whose bases the Ratong 

 wound; these appeared of much the same height, rising 

 several hundred feet above the valley : they were compa- 

 ratively level-topped, and had steep shelving rounded sides. 



I have been thus particular in describing the upper 

 Ratong valley, because it drains the south face of the 

 loftiest mountain on the globe ; and I have introduced 

 angular heights, and been precise in my details, because 

 the vagueness with which all terms are usually applied 

 to the apparent altitude and steepness of mountains 

 and precipices, is apt to give false impressions. It is 

 essential to attend to such points where scenery of real 

 interest and importance is to be described. It is customary 

 to speak of peaks as towering in the air, which yet subtend 

 an angle of very few degrees ; of almost precipitous ascents, 



