8 Historical Notes on the 



occasional deep snow holes in their steep sides. The gentle lines of 

 this neve, hj which this second glacier was fed were, notwithstanding, 

 clearly denned. It formed a concave saddle between the towering 

 giants at both sides, only pierced through by a few sharp needles, and 

 showing that the smaller joints of this comb were only concealed by 

 the soft snow garment thrown over them. 



All the same phenomena could be observed which invest the 

 formation of glaciers with such a lively interest. The unbroken 

 surface of the glacier was lower down rent and crevassed, a greater 

 inclination had to be passed over, an ice cascade was formed, the 

 towers and minarets of which stood in utter confusion during their 

 descent, and contrasted greatly with the unbroken ice above. But 

 soon the scattered masses were again brought near each other, they 

 were welded together into a continuous sheet, and only now and then 

 broad pinnacles of rock pushed their bold heads between the slowly 

 descending ice streams, which uniting, formed at last the trunk glacier. 

 "Where the ice cascade occurred the colours of the ice were most 

 lovely, azure blue being predominant ; but also mixed tints between 

 blue and green, and even changes into a deep green were met with. 

 This second glacier had its terminus about 200 feet higher than the 

 first one described, but it seemed that sometimes it descended a 

 considerable distance lower. A sharply defined line on the side of 

 the mountains running parallel with the glacier, and some 20 or 

 30 feet above, proved its greater dimensions and descent in some 

 seasons. The mountain sides above that line were covered with grass 

 and flowers, below it only shingle occurred ; this line did not cease 

 above the terminal face of the glacier, but continued for a few hundred 

 f ee*t lower, when it curved towards the river. It was evident to me 

 that it owed its existence to the glacier, which in winter was not only 

 higher in point of altitude, but also advanced further into the valley. 

 The limit of descent of the glaciers was, as I observed by further 

 examination, very much determined by the circumstance whether they 

 were covered with moraines or not, the first ones being more sheltered 

 from the sun's rays were always larger when reaching their termini, 

 and invariably travelled farther down the valley than those of which 

 the ice was unprotected. 



It was not without a certain feeling of awe that I stood thus in the 

 lonely wilderness, gazing in admiration at one of the most beautiful 

 phenomena of nature, and this feeling was still heightened by remem- 

 bering that never before had a human foot stood upon this spot. The 



