mer on the glaciers of Buissons and Taconnay, in those parts situated nearer the valley. For the last two years there has been an immense accumulation on their higher parts, and on the first in particular, with a great increase of fissures, and a general breaking up of the whole mass. The Glacier de Buissons has been decreasing for some years in the valley; but I suspect that before long it will move down and penetrate further into it than it has ever yet done in the recollection of man. The unbroken state of the lower part, and the great inclinatiou of the large masses towards the valley, the upper strata being much more in advance than those underneath, lead me to the supposition that the lower part of the glacier will be unable to support or resist the immense increase of ice which has been pouring down upon it from the higher parts; so as to preserve that regular and constant motion with which

"The glacier's cold and restless mass
Moves onward day by day."

The thin veil of vapour, which had been spreading slowly over the sky, now greatly increased, changing that which had been hitherto nearly black, into a deep blue, decreasing every instant in the intenseness of colour as the vapour

thickened. It was the warning signal to proceed, and informed us that, if we wished to escape from a storm, we should hasten towards the valley. The guides became alarmed, and were desirous to make the descent with the utmost possible rapidity. They doubted whether it would be possible to proceed farther than the second Plateau if the storm should chance to overtake us; for the danger of passing the first would then be increased to such an extent, owing to the avalanches which were likely to fall if there should be any thunder or strong wind, that it would not be prudent to attempt it. This was a prospect very far from pleasant. To be obliged to pass the greater part of a day and a whole night in the centre of a glacier, surrounded by its dangers, without covering, provisions, or fire, exposed to the violence of the tempest, and perhaps to a heavy fall of snow or sleet, in addition to the intense cold of the night, would have placed us in a most terrific and awful situation, rendered even more appalling by the uncertainty whether we could proceed the next morning. This, for the reason already stated, would be impossible if the weather continued stormy till that time.

Bidding farewell, therefore, to the Grand Plateau, we commenced the descent of the declivity

leading from it, by following the steps made in the morning, and which had not entirely disappeared. In some places, indeed, we could plainly trace the route made by the party who had ascended on the 25th of July. It resembled a shallow ditch in the snow, the surface was perfectly smooth, and there were no marks of the feet. At first we did not venture to slide, there being a precipice on the right; but, before we had got half way down, the leading guide, tired of winding about, started off, and we followed his example, passing close along the edge of the precipice. My blood ran cold, and I shuddered as I did so; but it was only for a moment-in the next I was at the bottom of the hill. The slightest mismanagement of the guide, behind whom I sat, would have inevitably destroyed us.

In crossing the second plain, we also constantly lost the trace of our route among the broken parts of it and the debris of avalanches. Several had fallen since our passage in the morning, and we hurried on, lest others should come down To descend the hill from this spot to upon us. the first plateau was an arduous undertaking. It was nearly perpendicular, the lower part of it terminating in a small flat space of a few feet, on the farther side of which was a precipice. However, it was decided to glissade it. A guide

slid down to receive the knapsacks, which being placed on the ice slid down to him; the rest of the guides followed, Devouassoud and myself bringing up the rear, stopping at the very edge of the cliff. From the great inclination of this steep, the rapidity with which we slid defies all description; during the instant in which it was performed I was nearly unconscious of what I was about.

The clouds collecting above us, showed that there was now no doubt but that a very violent storm would soon pass over, if it did not break upon, the mountain. We had considerable difficulty in making our way down the cleft at the foot of the hill, and it was rather increased by the impatience of the guides, who were now most anxious to get to our quarters on the Mulêts. Unfortunately we could not cross expeditiously the plain which we came upon after another short slide. Some of the crevices had closed, others had opened, and some large blocks of ice had fallen since the morning. Among these we proceeded towards the bridge or block of ice, along the side of which we had before crossed, and which hung over one of the widest and most dangerous fissures we had met with. Our progress was marked with anxiety and fear lest this bridge should have fallen into