pearance of the deepest azure), our course | ities, and at one o'clock precisely the red being directed towards the base of the su- banner fluttered on the summit of the cenperb central peak, known as the Mittalhorn,tral peak of the Wetterhorn. which now towered above our heads; ap- We had thus, after three days' continuparently a huge pyramid of the purest ice al ascent from the level of the plain, atand snow. To me it appeared so impossi- tained a height of 12,154 feet. Up to this ble to scale it, that I ventured to inquire period, our attention had been too much of the guides whether they expected to at- occupied in surmounting the opposing obtain the summit; to this they replied, that stacles which lay in our route, to allow us they assuredly did so. I, therefore, held to contemplate, with attention, the astonmy peace, thinking myself in right good ishing panorama, which gradually unfolded company, and the south-western aspect of itself. The summit being under our feet, the Peak being deemed, to all appearance, we had ample leisure to examine the relathe most practicable, we began the arduous tive position of the surrounding peaks, the task of scaling this virgin mountain. The greater portion of which appeared to lie ascent in itself strongly resembled that of far beneath us. To the north we perceivthe Col de Lauteraar described above; its ed the Faulhorn and the range of mounduration, however, being longer, and the tains skirting the Lake of Brienz; behind coating of ice and snow being likewise these the passage of the Brunig, together more dense, the steps hewn out with the with the Lakes of Lungerne and Lucerne, hatchet required to be enlarged with the on the banks of which rise the pyramids feet preparatory to changing our position. of the Righi and the Mont Pilate, the sumIn this singular manner we slowly ascend- mits of which (the boast of so many toured, digging the left hand into the hole ists) appeared as mole-hills. Towards the above our heads, left by the hatchet of the east, the eye wanders over an interminable advancing guide, and gradually drawing up extent of snow-clad summits, extending to the foot into the next aperture; the body the utmost verge of the horizon, a perfect reclining full length on the snow between ocean of mountains. Turning to the south, each succeeding step; in this truly delect- however, we there perceive the monarchs able situation, our eyes were, every mo- of these Bernese Alps rising side by side, ment, greeted with the view of the vast the Rosenhorn and Berglistock raise their precipices of ice stretching above and be- snow-clad crests in close proximity; sepalow; impressing constantly on our mind, rated from them by the Col de Lauteraar, the idea that one false step might seal the we perceived the rugged Shreckhorn, aptly fate of the whole party: connected as we denominated the Peak of Terror, whilst were one to the other, such in fact might the loftiest of the group, the Finsteraareasily have been the case. We had now horn, appears peering among his companbeen three hours on the peak itself, and the ions. To the right of these two peaks, guides confidently affirmed that in another the brilliant Vischerhoerner next came into hour (if no accident occurred) we should view, beyond which we discover the three attain the summit; the banner was accord- celebrated sister summits of the Eiger, the ingly prepared, and after a few minutes' Mounch and the Jungfrau; the whole group repose, taken by turning cautiously round exceeding the height of 12,000 feet. At and placing our backs against the snow, the base of these gigantic masses lies the we stretched upwards once more, the Wengern Alp, apparently a mere undulaguides singing national songs, and the ut- tion; whilst far below the outline of the most gaiety pervading the whole party at village of Grindelwald, may be faintly disthe prospect of so successful a result. The cerned the river Lutchinen, winding, like brilliant white summit of the Peak appear-a silver thread, through the valley. On all ed just above us, and when within thirty or forty feet of its apex, the guide chef, considerately thinking that his employer would naturally wish to be the first to tread this unconquered summit, reversed the ropes, and placing me first in the line, directed me to take the hatchet and cautiously cut the few remaining steps necessary. These injunctions I obeyed to the best of my abilVol. VI.-No. IV.

36

sides of the peak on which we now stood (on the summit of which a dozen persons could scarcely assemble) we beheld vast glittering precipices; at the foot of these lie the plains of snow which contribute to the increase of the numerous glaciers, situated still lower, viz. to the left the superior glacier of Grindelwald and that of Lauteraar, to the right the glaciers of Gauli, of Reufen, and of Rosenlaui, out of

which rose the peaks of the Wellhorn, the Losenhorn, and Engelhorner.

of the blue gulph below. Jaun at length volunteered the hazardous experiment of clearing it at a bound-this he accordingly did, arriving safely on the inferior border. The ropes being detached, the remainder of the party mustered resolution, and desperation giving fresh courage, we all in turn came flying across the crevasse upon

Many anxious looks were now cast in this direction; the guides having determined to reach Rosenlaui through this unexplored region. We had remained above twenty minutes on the summit, exposed to a violent wind and intense cold, although in the plain, on that day, the thermometer the smooth snow below. Our successful of Fahrenheit stood at 93 degrees in the triumph over this alarming obstacle having shade. The sudden appearance of a few greatly inspirited us, we prepare to cross a fleecy clouds far below, caused us some narrow slope of ice, on which our leadmisgivings, we therefore (after firmly se- er was diligently hacking a few steps; a curing the flag-staff) commenced our de- sudden rumbling sound, however, arrested scent on the opposite side of the peak to our attention the rear guides drew the that by which we had ascended, in order rest back with the ropes with violence, and to reach the plains of snow surmounting the next moment an avalanche thundered the great glacier of Rosenlaui. From the down over the slope we had been preparing excessive steepness of this slope, and the to cross, leaving the whole party petrified absence of crevasses, it was deemed advisa- with horror at the narrowness of their esble to sit and slide down the snow, guiding cape. The clouds of fine snow in which our course with the poles. In this man- we had been enveloped having subsided, ner we descended with the greatest rapidi- we again descended, during three hours, ty to the plateau. Here again great cau- a succession of steep walls of ice and snow; tion was required, many of the crevasses reaching the glacier of Rosenlaui at five being covered with a slight coating of fresh o'clock P. M. The passage of this glacier snow, incapable of sustaining the weight of resembles in every respect that of the farthe human body. After crossing this pla- famed glacier de Bossons on the Mont teau we arrived at the foot of the Tosen- Blanc, the crevasses being so numerous as horn. This is a lofty peak, situated at the to leave mere ridges of ice interposed bejunction of the glaciers of Rosenlaui and tween them; and these ridges being the Reufen, which at this point become identi- only means of progress, the eye was confied with the great slope of snow descend- stantly exposed to the view of the surrounding from the Wetterhorner. This region ing gulphs of ice which, at every step, apbeing a terra incognita like the preceding, pear ready to swallow up the unfortunate our advance was slow and wavering; and individual whose presence of mind should on the descent of the Tosenhorn the diffi- fail; whilst the pinnacles of ice rising over culties appeared rather to increase than di- head, often totter upon their unsteady minish the loose rocks and stones cover- foundations. In our present fatigued coning the southern aspect of the peak, reced- dition, the passage of the glacier was indeed ing continually from under the feet, and highly perilous; the extreme caution and falling in showers over the precipice; be- courage of the guides fortunately preventlow which, at a fearful depth, we could ed the occurrence of any serious accident, discern the deep blue crevasses and bris- and at eight P. M. we bade a final adieu to tling minarets of the glacier of Rosenlaui. those fields of snow and ice-bound peaks, Quitting the rocks, we again found our over which our course had been directed selves on slopes of snow so vertical that for a for seventeen consecutive hours. All danlong period of time it was necessary to de- ger was now past, and the excitement havscend backwards as if on a ladder, the hatch- ing ceased, the tedious descent over rocks et being in full play. At the foot of one of and fallen pines became insufferably fathese slopes, the snow broke suddenly tiguing. The baths of Rosenlaui were still away, leaving a crevasse, apparently about far below at our feet; whilst the sombre four yards in width, the opposite border of hue of the pine forests, stretching down which was fully twenty feet lower than that into the valley, formed a striking contrast on which we stood; this at first sight ap- to the uninterrupted glare of so many prepeared insurmountable, the guides them-vious hours. Night was now gradually selves being bewildered, and all giving ad- throwing its veil over the surrounding obvice in one breath; we were at this time cling-jects; the glimmering of lights soon being to the slope of snow, over the very verge came visible, and at nine P. M. we all ar

rived safely at the baths of Rosenlaui, the Surveyor-General's office, which is fixed there, where, for several hours, considerable exdid not indicate the quantity which fell. At the citement had prevailed-the flag fluttering common, of rain without cloud; but it rarely Mauritius, this phenomenon is said not to be unon the summit of the peak having been falls heavily. It is analogous, no doubt, to the discovered, by means of a powerful tele- icy spicule which fall in high northern lattiudes, scope. Four small black dots had like- and on the passes and plateaux of mountain-chains before storms of snow. We learn from our inwise been noticed at an immense height on formant, that some natives, one a man who had the otherwise unsullied snow, which dots been many years at Lucknow, and another who having been likewise seen to change their has lived at almost every station between Calcutposition, the inhabitants of the valleys wise-ta and Delhi, stated, that this is not uncommon,

ly concluded that another of their stupendous mountains was in a fair way of losing its former prestige of invincibility.

We should be obliged by any of our readers inand that it happens every year once or twice!forming us of any well-ascertained instances of rain without clouds, either formerly or that may On the following morning I took leave of happen in future. Much attention is (at last) bethe two intrepid chamois hunters, to whoming paid to meteorological phenomena at home, and the peculiar ones which form the "outstandon several occasions, during the previous ing" and "residual" instances, are calculated to eventful day, I had owed my preservation. throw light on such researches. I was shortly afterwards informed that Another shock of an earthquake was very disthese poor fellows (though so hardy) were tinctly felt on the morning of yesterday, the 7th confined by an illness arising from the se-sal, we learn, that "two distinct and rather severe instant, at ten minutes to 2 a. m.; and from Burriverity of their late exploit. For myself, I shocks of an earthquake were felt at this station escaped with the usual consequences of so at 3h 35m. of the 23d of July-a third and last long an exposure to the snow in these ele-shock was very slight indeed. A clock, the penvated regions, viz., the loss of the skin of dulum of which was swinging east and west, the face, together with inflammation of stopped at that hour; but another clock, in a conthe eyes; and accompanied by my remaining guide, who was likewise in a very in a doleful condition, we recrossed the Great Shiedeck, arriving at Interlacken the 10th of July.

We here learnt, for the first time, that two days previous to our ascent some Swiss gentlemen, indignant at the idea of allowing "un Anglais" to be the first to scale their virgin peak, had, in company with three chamois hunters, made another at tempt from Grindelwald. To our gratification it proved a failure; the parties, having mistaken their locality, ascended a peak, the summit of which had been first reached in 1844 by the same men who had so ably assisted me in the ascent just described. PARIS, August 20th, 1845.

trary position, and near it, was not at all affected."

We hear that three shocks of earthquake, two of them severe, have been experienced in various parts of Assam: one at Gowahatte, at 4 a. m. of the 22d of July, which startled the good folks from their downy couches, and was accompanied with considerable noise and undulations of the earth. Another occurred at the same station, in the middle of the night of the 25th of last month, stated We have learnt also to have been a severe one. no detailed particulars of these subterraneous commotions, but trust that if any memoranda have been taken of their duration, exact direction, with the atmospheric phenomena observed at the time, they will be made known. It is only by a careful and accumulated record of facts, that the laws and phenomena regulating such occurrences can be correctly ascertained, or any useful practical conclusions be deduced from them.

During the continuance of the shocks of earthquakes, felt in and near Calcutta and its suburban districts, an account was received of a meteor having been seen, particularly bright and luminous. It is described as being of a form resembling a star; its centre of a brilliant brightness, and its edges of a fine light blue, passing rapidly in a direct line from north to south It had a tail of considerable length, and in its passage was accompanied with a similar noise to that made by a rocket; it did not appear to be more than one quarter of a mile above the houses; and from the time of the observance to that of its disappearance lasted somewhat more than five seconds.

so that parts of the strand were under water, and a portion of it under the fort is impassable. Seveeral old houses had fallen in, by which some lives had been lost.

EARTHQUAKES AND METEOROLOGICAL PHENOMENA IN INDIA. Our readers are, perhaps, not a- At Agra the rains have been very heavy this seaware that a very curious meteorological phenom-son. The Jumna has risen unprecedentedly high, enon took place on Saturday evening last, the 2d instant, in the south part of Calcutta. It was a very smart fall of rain, with a bright starlight sky without clouds! between eight and nine o'clock in the evening. The fall did not extend, unfortunately, as far up the Chowringhee-road as the Sudder-Board office; and thus the rain-guage of

Several severe shocks of earthquake continue to be felt in various parts of the country. From the Calcutta Englishman.