from the 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 Glacieres 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 glacieres 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. CONTENTS: CHAPTER I. THE GLACIERE OF LA GENOLLIERE, IN THE JURA CHAPTER II. THE GLACIERE OF S. GEORGES, IN THE JURA CHAPTER III. THE LOWER GLACIERE OF THE PRE DE S. LIVRES, IN THE JURA
CHAPTER IV. THE UPPER GLACIERE OF THE PRE DE S. LIVRES CHAPTER V. THE GLACIERE OF GRACE-DIEU, OR LA BAUME, NEAR BESANCON, IN THE VOSGIAN JURA CHAPTER VI. BESANCON AND DOLE CHAPTER VII. THE GLACIERE OF MONTHEZY, IN THE VAL DE TRAVERS CHAPTER VIII. THE GLACIERE AND NEIGIERE OF ARC-SOUS-CICON CHAPTER IX. THE SCHAFLOCH, OR TROU-AUX-MOUTONS, NEAR THE LAKE OF THUN CHAPTER X. THE GLACIERE OF GRAND ANU, NEAR ANNECY CHAPTER XI. THE GLACIERE OF CHAPPET-SUR-VILLAZ, NEAR ANNECY CHAPTER XII. THE GLACIERES OF THE BREZON, AND THE VALLEY OF REPOSOIR CHAPTER XIII. LA BORNA DE LA GLACE, IN THE DUCHY OF AOSTA CHAPTER XIV. THE GLACIERE OF FONDEURLE, IN DAUPHINE CHAPTER XV. OTHER ICE-CAVES:--THE CAVE OF SCELICZE, IN HUNGARY--THE CAVE OF YEERMALIK, IN KOONDOOZ--THE SURTSHELLIR, IN ICELAND--THE GYPSUM CAVE OF ILLETZKAYA ZASTCHITA, ORENBURG--THE ICE-CAVERN ON THE PEAK OF TENERIFFE CHAPTER XVI. BRIEF NOTICES OF VARIOUS ICE-CAVES CHAPTER XVII. HISTORY OF THEORIES RESPECTING THE CAUSES OF SUBTERRANEAN ICE CHAPTER XVIII. ON THE PRISMATIC STRUCTURE OF THE ICE IN GLACIERES CHAPTER XIX. ON THE MEAN TEMPERATURE OF THE REGIONS IN WHICH SOME OF THE GLACIERES OCCUR
|
