44 



OLAFSEN AND POVELSEN's 



lected in large quantities,, and where the rain and chaw-wata^ 



most frequently run. These ravines have not an equal direction 

 either with the longitude or latitude of the gkeier, and do not 

 depart from a fixed point, either where the soil which is below 

 die ice might be more elevated, or where the force of the air 

 might be supposed to have a greater action. These ravines are 

 larger and more numerous towards the foot of the glacier, where 

 one might expect to find them smallest, and in less number than 

 towards the top: the deeper the)- are, the more narrow they are; 

 while, in general, they are wider at top than at bottom. We 

 saw water running in the little ravines, while we only heard a 

 strong murmur of the water falling into the greater near their 

 mouths. The bauks of these ditches are covered with sand 

 and ashes,, left by the water, when it has overflo wed. 



SUMMIT OF THE GLACIER. 



On approaching this point, we found the wind much stronger, 

 and the flakes of snow larger and more abundant ; fortunately, 

 we had the wind in our backs, which facilitated our ascent ; but 

 we met at the same time with heaps of snow, which rendered 

 our progress difficult. Hoping, however, that the weather 

 would change, we agreed not to return till we had gained the 

 summit, from which arose a black rock, that we could perceive 

 at intervals. At length, after travelling two hours, we found 

 that w 7 e had made no additional observations, since we could 

 discover nothing in the distance. A file of burnt rocks, but of 

 inconsiderable height, rose above the ice, and at these we stopped 

 to rest. The riakes of snow obscured the air so much, that 

 we hardly knew how we should get back : we examined the 

 compass, but without observing ehher variation or declination ; 

 and we w 7 ere prevented by our guides from going towards the 

 N. W. where the mountain is highest and least accessible. The 

 weather continued the same on the Geitland, so that we found 

 it impossible to resist much longer the intemperature of the air, 

 and deemed it prudent to return. Although the sky was very 

 heavy and dark, we discovered, on retrograding, the entrance 

 to a valley ; if the weather had been more favourable, we 

 should doubtless have had the pleasure of observing the scite 

 of these environs; but we doubt whether we should have dis- 

 covered the valley of Thoris. As we descended, we found the 

 wind in our face, which threw the snow so much against us, 

 that we could not observe the traces we left on ascending ; and 

 it therefore only remained for us to take the road that was least 

 steep. By this means we again met with ravines, which rendered 

 our descent very d ingerous, because they w T ere from three to 

 to three ells and a half wide, while the soil that separated them 



