of the Valley of' the Setlej River. 43 



and is occupied by sand and limestone pebbles : the moun- 

 tains on either side are of limestone, sharp at the summits, 

 but crumbling below. 



Tengdi is 12,000 feet above the level of the sea : the houses 

 are two stories : the lower half built of stone ; the upper of 

 unburnt bricks ; the roofs flat : and on them the firewood, 

 collected with great labour, is piled. Not a single tree is 

 near, and the few prickly bushes seldom exceed three inches 

 in height. The climate here is cooler than at Manes. The 

 temperature at sunrise was 45°, and in the middle of the day 

 78°. 



The district of Spiti, which comprises Pinu as well as Manes, 

 is situate between Chinese Tartary, Ladak, Kulu, and Base- 

 har, and pays tribute to each. The inhabitants are all Tar- 

 tars, and follow the Lama religion. There are lead mines. 

 The villages are from 12,000 to 12,500 feet above the level of 

 the sea. Toward Ladak the habitations must be still more 

 elevated, and the country very barren, and the climate inhos- 

 pitable. 



It was the intention [of Messrs Gerard to have gone on to- 

 wards Ladak, and returned by the Tari pass, which is the 

 most direct road. But entreaties and the offer of a douceur 

 of 150 rupees were unavailing : the Lafa, or chief person, 

 would not hear of their proceeding onwards, or attempting the 

 Tari pass. 



After a fruitless negociation, which lasted two days, they 

 returned to Manes, and thence to Sopona ; and again (7th 

 September) by the Maneramg pass to Pamachan, Sumdo, and 

 Ropa. The barometric measurement was repeated with near- 

 ly the same result. The Darbung river was only half its for- 

 mer size, for a few days had brought on winter, and the stream 

 was now but slowly and scantily supplied amongst the ice. 

 The snow had not descended more than 400 feet lower, since 

 they last crossed the pass, but the great fields had a new thick 

 covering frozen hard. Shortly after leaving the pass it began 

 to snow, and continued till they arrived at Pamachan. Upon 

 the old snow-beds it lay at 14,500 feet; but what fell upon 

 the ground, melted at 16,000 feet. . 



Sumdo is about 12,500 feet above the level of the sea. 



