A MONTH WITH THE MUIE GLACIER, 41 



Our facilities for observations were limited by several 

 unfavorable conditions. In the first place, though we were 

 there in the dry season, fifteen of the twenty-nine days 

 were so rainy that it was impossible to stir out of our tents 

 or to see far through the mists. In the second place, 

 the tides were so strong, and the winds at times so vio- 

 lent, that it was hazardous to venture far away with our 

 canoe. In the next place, the surface of the glacier is, in 

 its central portion, so intersected by yawning crevasses that 

 it was entirely out of the question to attempt to cross 

 it. Plans for measurement, different from those made 

 familiar in Professor TyndalPs book, had therefore to be 

 devised. 



On the other hand, some things were favorable to obtain- 

 ing satisfactory results. The fourteen days of fair weather 

 were extremely clear and beautiful, and there are no trees 

 upon the mountains to obstruct one's view r or to hinder him 

 in rambling over them. 



The specific results as to the movements of the ice, and 

 as to the formation of moraines and kames, are told a little 

 later. Here a few words will be in place concerning the 

 general aspect of the region as we saw it in August. 



The mountains on each side of Muir Inlet rise immedi- 

 ately from the water from three thousand to five thousand 

 feet. These we often ascended, and thus were permitted 

 repeatedly to behold one of the most marvelous views any- 

 where to be found in the world. At that season the level 

 places around our feet upon these summits were carpeted 

 with soft green grass, interspersed with large areas of flow- 

 ers in full bloom. Here were extensive, gorgeously colored 

 flower-beds, where bluebells, daisies, buttercups, violets, the 

 yellow arnica-flower, and the purple epilobium, were striv- 

 ing for mastery or for recognition. On the northern slopes 

 of slight elevations great masses of snow were preserved 

 in the very midst of these brilliant flower-gardens, and, 

 from their melting, clear little pools of water were on 

 everv hand inviting us to drink. The track of the mount- 



