34 MOIINTAINF. 
snow and wind, as to render tliem almost blind, at the 
srtme time that tlie face of each was excoriated, and tlie 
lips exceedingly swelled. 
On the first of August of the following year, 1/87, 
celebrated and indefatigable naturalist, M. de Saussure, set 
cut on his successful expedition, accompanied by a senant 
and eighteen guides, wlio earned a tent and mattresses, 
together with the necessary accommodations and various 
instruments of experimental philosophy. 'I he first night 
tney passed tinder the tent, on the summit of the mountain 
of La Cote, 4986 feet above “ the Priory,” a large village 
in the vale of Chamonni, the journey thither being exempt 
from trouiile or danger, as the ascent is always over turf. 
Of on the sv.did rock ; but above this place it i.s wholly over 
K-e 01 snows. 
Piarly next morning they traversed the glacier of 
C6te, to gain the foot of a small chain of rocks, inclo.sed 
ill the snows of Mont Blanc. The glacier is both difficult 
:uid dangerous, being intersected by wide, deep, irregular 
ehasms, which freijuently can be passed only by ihme 
bridges of snow', w'liich are su.spended over tlie abyss. After 
reaching the ridge of rocks, the ti'act winds along a hollow', 
or valley, filled with snow, which extends north and south 
to the foot of the highest summit, and is divided at interv’.als 
by enormous crevices. These shew the snow' to he disposed 
hi liorizoutal beds, each of which answ'ers to a year, and, 
notwithslauding the width of the fissures, the depth can in 
no part he measured. At four in the afternoon, tJie party 
readied the second of the three great platforms of snoW 
'jicy liad to traverse, and here they eiicanii>ed at the height 
ol 9312 feet above the Priory, or l2,/6'8 feet, nearly two 
miles and a half, above the level of the sea. 
Prom die centre of diis platibrm, enclosed betw'een tlic 
f.irtlicst summit of Mont Blanc on the soudi, its high step6> 
or terrace.s, on the east, and the Dome de Goute on tli« 
west, iiotliing but snow appears. It is quite pure, of * 
da/./.liiig whiteness, and on the high .summits presents # 
singular contrast w'ith the sky, which, in these elevated 
regions, is almost black. Here no living being is to l>« 
seen ; no appearance of vegetation ; it is the abode of cold 
and kilcnce. “ When,” observes M. de Saussure, “ I 
represent to myself Dr. Paccaid and James Balma fir»‘ 
