THE COLONIES OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 279 



where sixty persons might rest; here the bank was composed of rough 

 gravel steeply inclined to the river there the path was narrow, with preci- 

 pices of five or six hundred feet below, whilst the naked towering peaks 

 and mural rocks, rent in every direction, threatened the passenger with 

 ruin from above. In some parts of the road there were flights of steps, in 

 others frame-work or rude staircases opening to the gulf below. In one 

 instance, the passage consisted of six posts, driven horizontally into clefts 

 of the rocks, about twenty feet distant from each other, and secured by 

 wedges. Upon this giddy frame a staircase of fir spars was erected, of the 

 rudest nature ; twigs and slabs of stone only connected them together no 

 support on the outer side, which was deep, and overhung the terrific tor- 

 rent of the Tidung; the rapid rolling and noise of which was enough to 

 shake the stoutest nerves. Some of these kind of passages were swept 

 away, and new ones had to be prepared for the British adventurers. 



" From the confluence of the Tidung with the Sutledj, the town of Ribe, 

 or Ridding, has a charming appearance ; yellow fields, extensive vineyards, 

 groves of apricot, and large well-built stone houses contrast with the 

 neighbouring gigantic mountains.* 



"Nature thus carefully adapts vegetation to this extraordinary country, 

 for did it extend no higher than on the southern face of the Himalaya 

 mountains, Tartary would be uninhabitable by either man or beast. On 

 the southern slope of the range, the extreme height of cultivation is 

 10,000 feet, and even there green crops are frequently cut ; the highest 

 habitation is 9,500 feet; 11,800 may be reckoned the upper limit of forest, 

 and 12,000 that of bushes, and in some sheltered ravines dwarf bushes are 

 found at 13,000 feet high. Mark the contrast on the northern side, in the 

 valley ot Baspa river ; the highest village is 11,400 feet, cultivation reaches 

 the same level; forests extend to at least 13,000, but advancing yet further, 

 villages are found at 13,000 feet ! cultivation at 13,600, fine birch trees 

 at 14,000, and tama bushes (which furnish excellent fire- wood) at 17,000 

 feet above the level of the sea. To the eastward towards Lake Manassa- 

 rowar, according to Tartar accounts, crop, forests, and bushes thrive at 

 a still greater height. At Zinchin, 16,136 feet above the the sea, where 

 our travellers were stopped by the Chinese guards, about 200 wild horses 

 were seen galloping about and feeding on the very tops of the heights $ 

 kites and eagles were soaring into the deep blue sether, large flocks of 

 small birds like linnets flying about, and beautiful locusts jumping among 

 the bushes. At times, the sun shone like an orb of fire without the least 

 haze, the stars and planets with a brilliancy only to be seen from such an 

 elevation, and the part of the horizon where the moon was expected to 

 rise, could scarcely be distinguished before the limb touched it ; the at- 

 mosphere sometimes exhibited that remarkable dark appearance witnessed 

 in polar latitudes. With a transit telescope of thirty inches, and a power 

 of thirty, stars of the fifth magnitude were distinct in broad day. Ther- 

 mometer 60 deg. in the shade, at sunset 42 deg., and before sunrise 30 deg. 

 in July." 



This extract from the portion of the " History of the British Colo- 

 nies," relating to the physical aspect of India, will convey an idea of 

 the manner in which the whole subject is treated, t 



* All the British travellers who have visited these lofty regions, have ex- 

 pressed deep regret at returning again to the plains, notwithstanding the hard- 

 ships endured and the rudeness of the climate ; it is to be hoped we may soon 

 be enabled to open a trade with Tartary through these passes, which will lead 

 to new commercial intercourse and traffic. 



-f- We must not omit to add that an exceedingly curious and instructive table 

 is also given of the height latitude, and longitude, and physical aspect of each 

 lofty peak, and prominent or distinguishing mountain. 



