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1877; Nature Portfolio; Volume: 17; Issue: 419 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1038/017025a0
ISSN1476-4687
ResumoALTHOUGH in this narrative Prof. Bryce takes the reader over pretty well-known ground, about parts of which, at least, much has been written, still even the best-informed readers will read his book with pleasure and profit. Prof. Bryce used his own eyes, and as he is a good and independent observer, there is an unusual freshness about his narrative. He journeyed down the Volga, crossed the southern steppe and the Caucasus to Ararat, which he ascended, thence to the shore of the Black Sea, sailing along the coast to Constantinople. Nijni Novgorod Fair, he thinks, has been much over-estimated in some respects, and he has a good word to say of the recently much-abused Cossack. Prof. Bryce is a good geologist, and his work abounds with interesting notes on the geology as well as the flora of the regions which he traversed. Perhaps the most interesting chapter in his book is that in which he describes his ascent of Mount Ararat. In a previous chapter he has collected much valuable information concerning the mountain, the legends connected with it, its geology, volcanic phenomena, meteorology, vegetation, and animals. Prof. Bryce, with a companion, six Cossack soldiers, and an interpreter, set out from Aralyk, a little to the north of the mountain, at 8 A.M., on September 11 last year, to attempt the ascent. About noon they were fairly on the side of Ararat, and at about 6,000 feet came upon a small Kurd encampment, some of the Kurds, with their oxen, being induced to act as baggage-bearers. At the well of Sardar-bulakh they camped late in the afternoon, about 7,500 feet above the sea. About one A.M. they started again, thirteen in all, but as they proceeded, with many vexatious halts, the Cossacks dropped off one by one, and at last, at about 12,000 feet, Prof. Bryce resolved to take what he wanted in the way of food, and start at his own pace. Two Cossacks and a Kurd accompanied him to the height of about 13,600 feet, when they too dropped off, and Prof. Bryce resolved to accomplish the remainder of the 17,000 feet alone, a hazardous undertaking even for a trained Alpinist. Partly up a rocky slope which seems to extend considerably beyond the snow-line, and partly over the soft snow itself, and enveloped much of the time in cloud, Prof, Bryce continued his solitary and fatiguing climb, until about half-past two P.M., he became convinced that he was really on the top of Ararat, at least one of the tops, for there are two, one about thirty feet higher than the other, and he did not descend until he had set his feet on both. There were difficulties and dangers both in the ascent and descent, though they do not seem to be nearly so great, judging from Prof. Bryce's description, as those which attend the ascent of a moderate Alpine summit Prof. Bryce reached his companions again in safety. Notwithstanding he had to make all haste to reach the summit, he had time to make several interesting notes of what he saw by the way, the evidences of volcanic action particularly attracting his attention. To show the superstitious awe with which the sacred summit is regarded in the region around, Prof. Bryce tells that when the Archimandrite of Etchmiadzin was told that the Englishman had ascended to the top of "Massis," the venerable man replied, smiling sweetly, "No, that cannot be. No one has ever been there. It is impossible." Prof. Bryce's is the sixth known ascent of Ararat, the first having been made in 1829 by Dr. Frederick Parrot, a Russo-German professor in Dorpat University.
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