ICE-CAVES

OF

FRANCE AND SWITZERLAND.

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 200feet below the surface of the earth, unconnected with glaciers or snowmountains, and in latitudes and at altitudes where ice could not underordinary circumstances be supposed to exist, has attracted some attentionon the Continent; but little or nothing seems to be practically known inEngland on the subject. These caves are so singular, and many of them sowell repay inspection, that a description of the twelve which I havevisited can scarcely, as it seems to me, be considered an uncalled-foraddition to the numerous books of travel which are constantly appearing.In order to prevent my narrative from being a mere dry record of naturalphenomena, I have interspersed it with such incidents of travel as may beinteresting in themselves or useful to those who are inclined to follow mysteps. I have also given, from various sources, accounts of similar cavesin different parts of the world.

A pamphlet on Glacières Naturelles by M. Thury, ofGeneva, of the existence of which I was not aware when I commenced myexplorations, has been of great service to me. M. Thury had only visitedthree glacières when he published his pamphlet in 1861, but the observations he records are veryvaluable. He had attempted to visit a fourth, when, unfortunately, thewant 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 inthese caves, and in the Geological Section, on their general character andthe 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 withmeasurements 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 ofthem from memory. And of the measurements, too, it is only fair to saythat they were taken for the most part under very unfavourablecircumstances, in dark caves lighted by one, or sometimes by two candles,with a temperature varying from slightly above to slightly below thefreezing-point, and with no surer foot-hold than that afforded by slipperyslopes of ice and chaotic blocks of stone. In all cases, errors are due towant of skill, not of honesty; and I hope that they do not generally lieon the side of exaggeration.

CAMBRIDGE: June 1865.

CONTENTS.