﻿172 ROCKY MOUNTAINS. Jult 



Eocky Movintams at the bend of the River. 



north-north-east * ; which makes an angle of rather 

 more than forty-five degrees with the axis of the 

 great chain, from which they project like spurs. 

 The circumstance of the valleys pervading the chain 

 transversely, though with more or less of ascent, 

 explains the reason of the principal rivers on both 

 the eastern and western slopes having their sources 

 beyond the axis of the range, and flowing through it. 

 From some passages in Dr. Hooker's letters, I infer 

 that the Himalayas have a similar configuration. 



As the successive spurs and the valleys between 

 them open out to the voyager who descends the 



* I have never had leisure to ascertain the true course of 

 these ranges within six or seven degrees, but from the bearings 

 I have taken several times in passing I suppose that south 20° 

 west, and north 20° east is very near their direction. 



