Page:The journal of the Royal Geographic Society of London. Volume 34, 1864. (IA s572id13663720).pdf/297

Rh the first who, by crossing here and following the Okitika, reached the west coast; and we have the more deeply to deplore the sad loss of this accomplished engineer and surveyor, as his field-books, containing the results of his arduous journey, were also lost. This col is situated on the northern side of the main branch of the Rakaia, and forms also the northern boundary of Mount Tyndall, so named by me in honour of Professor J. Tyndall, the eminent natural philosopher.

Mount Tyndall consists of a mighty system of mountains culminating in one large pyramidal mass of about 11,000 feet, the latter generally concealed by a great many surrounding peaks of nearly the same altitude. It is one of the principal centres of our Alps, and of great extent. Enormous snow-fields lie on its flanks, from which large glaciers descend, some of which belong to the largest in the whole range. The main sources not only of the Rakaia, but also of the Rangitata, and the principal glacial source of the Godley River, which forms Lake Tekapo, are here situated; the outlet of the latter constituting one of the principal sources of the Waitaki.

This range terminates with a low névé saddle, from 7500 to 8000 feet high. An isolated mountain, which I have named Mount Petermann, in honour of my accomplished friend Dr. Petermann, the eminent geographer, rises on its northern side and is also covered with perpetual snow.

Again, south of Mount Petermann, another remarkable break is observable, but my attempt to reach it was not crowned with success. My travelling companions, although willing to follow me anywhere, were not experienced in glacier travelling, and, as I wished to avoid the possibility of any accident, being unwilling to risk the life of another, I had to return when only a few miles from the pass.

The Southern Alps, south of this latter col, begin to reach a still higher mean elevation, the snow and névé fields gain in extent, and give origin to the largest glaciers of our Alps. A remarkable cluster of mountains is here assembled round a common centre, to which latter I gave the name of Mount Elie de Beaumont, and which, unlike the other Alpine giants, has not only soft outlines, but is everywhere covered with a uniform sheet of snow, and consequently does not show one single rocky spot either on its sides or summit. This system gives rise, as before stated, to glaciers of great extent, the outlets of which on the eastern side form some of the most important tributaries of the rivers Godley and Cass, falling into Lake Tekapo, and of the river Tasman, forming Lake Pukaki.

I observed no col of any consequence in this stupendous chain, the average height of which may be estimated at 10,000 to 11,000