534 S* r george shuckburgh’s Obfervatiom 
of Mr. de luc’s conftruction, a variation-needle, a level 
belonging to Mr. de saussure, and a tent. Thus accou- 
tered we proceeded up an afcent, not however very fteep, 
for three hours and a half without intermifiion, the path 
leading in a fpiral kind of direction, very rugged and full 
of loofe pieces of rock that are brought down with the 
melting fnows, palling through romantic woods of fine 
firs and other trees, interfperfed here and there with a 
thin foil of excellent pafture. Before we arrived at the 
hut, where we were to lleep (for our intention was to lay 
upon the mountain that night, in order to have the more 
time the next morning for our operations) having 
walked on a little too far before, we loft fight of our 
guides. We called feveral times, but were never an- 
fwered: — the night was now coming on; a kind of fog 
appeared, with fmall rain; our fituation became fome- 
what embarraffing. We called again, but were anfwered 
by nothing but an echo, the place being a moft profound 
folitude. We began now to confider ourfelves as loft. 
Mr. DE saussure, though, he had been feven or eight 
times before upon the mountain, found himfelf in doubt 
concerning the way ; but after a fliort dilemma thought 
it belt to proceed. We did ; and now began to perceive 
at a diftance fome little huts or hovels indiftin£tly : a few 
more lieps allured us we were right, and about nine 
o’clock 
