CLOUDS AND EI VERS, ICE AND GLACIERS. 157 



this idea that we may be sure it would have found more 

 frequent expression, were it not in such apparent con- 

 tradiction with our every-day experience of ice. 



396. Still the idea found its advocates. In a little 

 book, published in 1773, and entitled ' Picturesque 

 Journey to the Glaciers of Savoy, 5 Bordier of Geneva 

 wrote thus : — ' It is now time to look at ail these objects 

 with the eyes of reason ; to study, in the first place, the 

 position and the progression of glaciers, and to seek the 

 solution of their principal phenomena. At the first as- 

 pect of the ice-mountains an observation presents itself, 

 which appears sufficient to explain all. It is that the 

 entire mass of ice is connected together, and presses 

 from above downwards after the manner of fluids. Let 

 us then regard the ice, not as a mass entirely rigid 

 and immobile, but as a heap of coagulated matter, or as 

 softened wax, flexible and ductile to a certain point.' * 

 Here probably for the first time the quality of plasticity 

 is ascribed to the ice of glaciers. 



397. To us, familiar with the aspect of the glaciers, 

 it must seem strange that this idea once expressed did 

 not at once receive recognition and development. But 

 in those early days explorers were few, and the ' Pic- 

 turesque Journey* probably but little known, so that 

 the notion of plasticity lay dormant for more than half 



* I am indebted to my distinguished friend Prof. Studer of Berne for 

 directing: my attention to Bordier's book, and to my friends at the British 

 Museum for the great trouble they have taken to find it for me. 



