BATHYBIA.
cone against the face of the wall and appeared to be of volcanic origin. This volcanic slope was certainly quite scaleable, and we unanimously decided to attempt a descent by it. Many hours afterwards, camp was pitched on the plateau hard by the cone, and all were oblivious of the sounds of revelry occasioned by the snorers.
The following day the fog again enveloped the landscape, and the time was spent making the necessary preparations for the continuance of our journey with packs in place of sledges. The depth of the abyss before us was very great, but difficult at the time for us to judge. Afterwards it proved to be about 30,000 feet, or some 22,000 below sea level.
When at last the mist rose and we were able to proceed, advance proved rapid for the first 12,000 feet as we could glissade for long stretches at a time; at this level, the temperature having steadily risen during the descent, the ice cap began to dwindle and a lobed front was met extending amongst great accumulations of morainic material stacked in the form of terraces along the mountain side. Thaw water, developed in pools investing the erratic boulders distributed over the ice, trickled away to unite and form crystal clear stream, soon lost in crevasses, whither
