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Ice-Caves of France and Switzerland By: G. F. (George Forrest) Browne (1833-1930) |
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A NARRATIVE OF
SUBTERRANEAN EXPLORATION. BY THE
REV. G.F. BROWNE, M.A. FELLOW AND ASSISTANT TUTOR OF ST. CATHARINE'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE;
MEMBER OF THE ALPINE CLUB.
1865.
PREFACE.
The existence of natural ice caves at depths varying from 50 to 200 feet
below the surface of the earth, unconnected with glaciers or snow
mountains, and in latitudes and at altitudes where ice could not under
ordinary circumstances be supposed to exist, has attracted some
attention on the Continent; but little or nothing seems to be
practically known in England on the subject. These caves are so
singular, and many of them so well repay inspection, that a description
of the twelve which I have visited can scarcely, as it seems to me, be
considered an uncalled for addition to the numerous books of travel
which are constantly appearing. In order to prevent my narrative from
being a mere dry record of natural phenomena, I have interspersed it
with such incidents of travel as may be interesting in themselves or
useful to those who are inclined to follow my steps. I have also given,
from various sources, accounts of similar caves in different parts of
the world. A pamphlet on Glacières Naturelles by M. Thury, of Geneva, of the
existence of which I was not aware when I commenced my explorations, has
been of great service to me. M. Thury had only visited three glacières
when he published his pamphlet in 1861, but the observations he records
are very valuable. He had attempted to visit a fourth, when,
unfortunately, the want of a ladder of sufficient length stopped him. I was allowed to read Papers before the British Association at Bath
(1864), in the Chemical Section, on the prismatic formation of the ice
in these caves, and in the Geological Section, on their general
character and the possible causes of their existence. It is necessary to say, with regard to the sections given in this book,
that, while the proportions of the masses of ice are in accordance with
measurements taken on the spot, the interior height of many of the
caves, and the curves of the roof and sides, are put in with a free
hand, some of them from memory. And of the measurements, too, it is only
fair to say that they were taken for the most part under very
unfavourable circumstances, in dark caves lighted by one, or sometimes
by two candles, with a temperature varying from slightly above to
slightly below the freezing point, and with no surer foot hold than that
afforded by slippery slopes of ice and chaotic blocks of stone. In all
cases, errors are due to want of skill, not of honesty; and I hope that
they do not generally lie on the side of exaggeration. CAMBRIDGE: June 1865.
CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE THE GLACIÈRE OF LA GENOLLIÈRE, IN THE JURA .............1 CHAPTER II. THE GLACIÈRE OF S. GEORGES, IN THE JURA ................19 CHAPTER III. THE LOWER GLACIÈRE OF THE PRÉ DE S. LIVRES, IN
THE JURA ...............................................32 CHAPTER IV. THE UPPER GLACIÈRE OF THE PRÉ DE S. LIVRES .............46 CHAPTER V. THE GLACIÈRE OF GRÂCE DIEU, OR LA BAUME, NEAR BESANÇON,
IN THE VOSGIAN JURA ....................................60 CHAPTER VI. BESANÇON AND DÔLE ......................................85 CHAPTER VII. THE GLACIÈRE OF MONTHÉZY, IN THE VAL DE TRAVERS ........97 CHAPTER VIII. THE GLACIÈRE AND NEIGIÈRE OF ARC SOUS CICON ............118 CHAPTER IX. THE SCHAFLOCH, OR TROU AUX MOUTONS, NEAR THE LAKE OF
THUN ...................................................131 CHAPTER X. THE GLACIÈRE OF GRAND ANU, NEAR ANNECY .................157 CHAPTER XI. THE GLACIÈRE OF CHAPPET SUR VILLAZ, NEAR ANNECY ........182 CHAPTER XII. THE GLACIÈRES OF THE BREZON, AND THE VALLEY
OF REPOSOIR ............................................202 CHAPTER XIII. LA BORNA DE LA GLACE, IN THE DUCHY OF AOSTA .............. Continue reading book >>
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