Geological Survey of Canterbury. 133 



covered with a uniform sheet of snow ; and I was therefore doubly 

 interested to see this portion of our Alps in autumn, when they are 

 most free from it. The southern face of the Pass was, with the 

 exception of a large snow-hole in the G-ap and a few minor ones in 

 shady spots, entirely free from snow, but large snow-fields appeared 

 on the slopes of the surrounding mountains flanking it. From the 

 southern one, the Twin Peaks, the small Hall glacier descends ; the 

 outlet of which, after a few hundred yards rapid descent, precipitates 

 itself over the vertical cliffs in a picturesque fall. 



It was a cold morning, and the whole country was still white with 

 hoar frost when we arrived at the foot of the Pass, having followed the 

 bridle-track which leads to the terrace by which the shingle-slip is 

 reached. Here the road ceases, and we ascended the shingle-slip about 

 600 feet, climbing along the vegetation on its eastern side till we came 

 at last to the zig-zag track, cut up the eastern rocky spur, and 

 although steep and staircase-like in some spots, it is nevertheless 

 well laid out, and has proved a great assistance to travellers. 

 About 9*30 a.m., we reached the summit of the Pass by this track, 

 and I looked around me with great interest. How different the view now 

 to what it was the preceding spring, when the whole surface was covered 

 with one deep sheet of snow, hiding nearly all the remarkable physical 

 features of this depression in the central chain. The snow had now 

 entirely disappeared, except a few large patches in deep hollows on the 

 hill-sides ; and a picturesque lake lay at our feet, surrounded by hills 

 mostly covered with a deep green alpine turf, thickly studded with 

 flowers. Over them rose majestically the rugged forms of Mount 

 Harman and Twin Peaks with their snow-fields and ice-masses glittering 

 in the morning sun, which had just vanquished and dispersed the fog 

 lying over them. The water of the lake was perfectly clear, and had in 

 general a stony bottom ; a few grebes (Podiceps rujipectus) , were swim- 

 ming upon it, and gave life to the otherwise solitary and tranquil scenery. 



On the steep slopes leading to the lake a rich and varied flora was 

 growing : early in the morning, flowers and leaves are generally covered 

 with a thin coating of ice, which gives them a strange appearance, 

 but this soon disappears when the sun breaks through the mist ; and 

 these plants, some in full bloom, others budding and which look so delicate, 

 then prove their hardy nature by their bright and uninjured appearance. 

 They were principally Compositae, umbelliferous, and in a minor degree, 

 ranunculaceous plants which constituted this interesting vegetation. 

 Among the first named were those which formed a thick carpet of flowers, 



