Matterhorn (Switzerland and Italy); Mountaineering
239 These ends, I believe, are still attached to the rocks, and mark our
line of ascent and descent. I saw one of them in 1873.
240 I paid very little attention to this remarkable phenomenon, and was
glad when it disappeared, as it distracted our attention. Under
ordinary circumstances I should have felt vexed afterwards at not
having observed with greater precision an occurrence so rare and so
wonderful. I can add very little about it to that which is said
above. The sun was directly at our backs; that is to say, the
fog-bow was opposite to the sun. The time was 6.30 P.M. The forms
were at once tender and sharp; neutral in tone; were developed
gradually, and disappeared suddenly. The mists were light (that is,
not dense), and were dissipated in the course of the evening.
It has been suggested that the crosses are incorrectly figured in
the accompanying view, and that they were probably formed by the
intersection of other circles or ellipses, as shown in the annexed
diagram. I think this suggestion is very likely correct; but I have
preferred to follow my original memorandum.
[Illustration: Diagram of fog-bow]
In Parry’s _Narrative of an Attempt to reach the North Pole_, 4to,
1828, there is, at pp. 99-100, an account of the occurrence of a
phenomenon analogous to the above-mentioned one. “At half-past five
P.M. we witnessed a very beautiful natural phenomenon. A broad white
fog-bow first appeared opposite to the sun, as was very commonly the
case,” etc. I follow Parry in using the term fog-bow.
It may be observed that, upon the descent of the Italian guides
(whose expedition is noticed upon p. 282, and again in the
Appendix), upon July 17, 1865, the phenomenon commonly termed the
Brocken was observed. The following is the account given by the Abbé
Amé Gorret in the _Feuille d’Aoste_, October 31, 1865:—“Nous étions
sur l’épaule (the ‘shoulder’) quand nous remarquâmes un phénomène
qui nous fit plaisir; le nuage était très-dense du côté de
Valtornanche, c’était serein en Suisse; nous nous vîmes au milieu
d’un cercle aux couleurs de l’arc-en-ciel; ce mirage nous formait à
tous une couronne au milieu de laquelle nous voyions notre ombre.”
This occurred at about 6.30 to 7 P.M., and the Italians in question
were at about the same height as ourselves—namely, 14,000 feet.
241 They had been travelling with, and had been engaged by, Lord F.
Douglas, and so considered him their employer, and responsible to
them.
242 Transcribed from the original memorandum.
243 Nor did I speak to them afterwards, unless it was absolutely
necessary, so long as we were together.
244 A portrait of Franz Andermatten is given in the engraving facing p.
202.
245 To the point marked *Z* on the map.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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