water, the ſurface of which, as was to have been expected at this height, was covered with ice about an inch and a half thick. We immediately made a hole in the ice, and regaled ourſelves with ſome excellent water. I did not feel any of thoſe diſagreeable ſenſations in the throat, which I have often experienced on the French Alps, from drinking the water which iſſues from the foot of the Glaciers; although the cold of the water in this cavern was one degree lower than that generally indicated by the water of the Glaciers, for upon plunging a thermometer into it, it fell to the freezing point. It ſeems that the diſagreeable pricking ſenſation occaſioned by the water of the Glaciers in the internal fauces, ariſes from its being deprived of its atmoſpherical air.
The roof of the cavern was covered with cryſtals of ſaltpetre.
Piron, who had been indiſpoſed for ſeveral days, found himſelf ſo overcome with fatigue as to be unable to proceed any further. Deſchamps alſo choſe to remain with him at the cavern: as for the reſt of us, we ſet forward on our aſcent to the ſummit of the peak.
Having reached its baſe, we ſaw it elevate itſelf before us in the ſhape of a cone, to a prodigious height, forming the crown of the higheſt of theſe mountains. From this ſpot our view
extended
