constantly very considerably less in its elevation
and leaning outward, so that a section
of the chasm would represent the annexed
figure.
Among the rocks grew, rather plentifully,
Polypodium hyperboreum, and a species of
fern which appeared to me new, but of which
I do not sufficiently recollect the characters
to attempt a description of it. On climbing
the eastern cliffy and descending on the
grassy surface to the margin of the lake, I
found, but sparingly, Isoetes lacustris. As
nothing more remarkable invited me to proceed
in a southern direction in the chasm,
I turned to the north, and retraced my
steps; when, on looking back, after walking
a few hundred paces from my tent, I was
amazingly struck with the terrific appearance
of the entrance of the pass of Almannegiaa,
the descent through which I have previously
mentioned.. Huge masses on the summit
of the precipice scarcely appeared to be attached
to the edge on which they stood, so
that you would think the slightest breath
of wind would hurl them into the plain
below; while all around, in addition to
these, the great fissures, the rocks projecting
from the sides, and the scantiness of vegetation,
formed a scene truly grand, but at
the same time divested of everything that
might be called beautiful. Farther to the
northward I met with several plants which
1 had not before seen in the country: among
them were Saxífraga cernua, a new Marchantía
in fructification, two or three Hypna,
with which I was unacquainted, and Fon-
tinalis squamosa, also, full of capsules. The
noise which I now heard of the falling ot
water convinced me I was arrived in the
neighborhood of a cascade, of a portion
v o l . r. p