14 Historical Notes on the 



On both sides of the cave, lying closely to the ice, moraines were 

 formed along which the explorer could climb. 



The direction of the glacier is for the first mile from its extremity, 

 north ; its terminal face stretches obliquely across the valley, which is 

 no doubt occasioned by the junction of another large glacier stream 

 coming from the west, and here washing its base. The glacier from 

 which this stream is derived lies in a deep gorge with nearly vertical 

 walls, terminating about 150 feet above the Clyde glacier. Its 

 extensive neve lies at the eastern slopes of Mount Tyndall, opposite 

 another neve from which one of the branches of the Havelock glacier 

 descends. A col with an unbroken snowfield would bring the Alpine 

 traveller to the neve of the latter. The breadth of the Clyde glacier 

 is 1300 feet, but a line at a right angle with the valley would reduce it 

 to 1000. I ciimbed the mountain side near the junction of the two 

 glacial streams to have a better view of it, and could not cease to 

 admire the exquisite wild beauty of the splendid scenery around me. 

 It would be very difficult to give any idea of the varied shape of the 

 mountains around. Xeedles are seldom seen, but huge pyramidical 

 peaks frequently rise above the general line of the chain. Some of 

 them are so precipitous that for several thousand feet no snow can 

 cling to their walls, which stand above the dazzling garment at their 

 feet in stern grandeur. Cumulus clouds at a great altitude came 

 from the north-west, and the change from sunshine to shade gave an 

 additional charm to their forms. I made the terminal face of the Clyde 

 glacier 3762 feet above the sea, the mean of barometrical observations 

 and of the boiling water apparatus, both agreeing within 23 feet. 

 The water coming from the cave was of a deep semi-opaque blue 

 colour, and had not the milky hue which such waters generally 

 exhibit, the long continuation of fine weather having brought about 

 this change. It was near sunset when I had finished my observations, 

 and we therefore hurried back to our camp, but found that the river 

 since the morning had risen a little ; the difference in temperature 

 between the cold night and the warm sunny day causing a greater 

 waste of ice. 



Having thus accomplished my work at the head waters of the 

 Hangitata, I returned to Mesopotamia, where I was occupied for 

 some days in packing my collections, which had been stored 

 there, and sending them with a dray to Christchurch. On 

 April the 26th I said good-bye to my kind host, and left this 

 interesting locality, which offers to the physical geographer an endless 



