of the Valley of the Setlej River. 35 



able, and there are no bridges. For the same reason they 

 could not see the hot wells between the Spiti and Zangchdm, 

 four miles north of Sh'idlkhar. They are in great repute in 

 this quarter, and diseased people resort thither from long dis- 

 tances, either to bathe in them, or drink the waters. 



The travellers proceeded along the glen of the Spiti to 

 Lakh, which is 12,900 feet above the sea, whence they de- 

 scended into the bed of the Yulang river, a middling sized 

 stream, rising among perpetual snow in the west. It is in- 

 creased by rivulets from either side ; and above the fordj a 

 stream gushes from the brow of the mountain, and is precipi- 

 tated into it in a transparent cascade. Hence the angle of 

 ascent was 34°, rising 2000 feet perpendicular, in a distance 

 of one mile, over hard gravel. Difficulty and danger in a 

 thousand forms attend the traveller's progress : when he clings 

 to the bank, he frequently brings away a piece of it. In some 

 places there are many large stones amongst the gravel, which 

 it requires much caution to avoid setting in motion, for one 

 displaces others, so that sometimes a space of 100 yards of 

 gravel and stones moves downwards at once, and the larger 

 stones, bounding over the slopes, are showered to the bottom 

 amidst much confusion and noise. Now and then nitches for 

 the point of the foot were cut ; and Messrs Gerard, not taking 

 off their shoes, as their followers did, were often obliged to 

 grasp the nearest person's hand. They reached the top with- 

 out accident, much wearied with climbing, and rested upon 

 the verge of the gulf, and enjoyed a refreshing breeze at the 

 height of 12,700 feet, blowing over an extensive tract, which 

 resembles a heath. Thence they descended to the village of 

 Liu, which occupies a slip of land on the right bank and in 

 the bed of the Spiti, embosomed by sterile masses, glowing 

 under the ardor of a tropical sun. From this the climate ac- 

 quires a delicious softness. On the east is a solitary rock 60 

 feet high, which was formerly the site of a fort now in ruins : 

 southward, the plain is washed by a stream called Lipak, fall- 

 ing into the Spiti a bowshot distance. 



They halted on the 15th August, on account of rain. In 

 the evening, when it cleared, they visited the Spiti, which is 

 here broad. It was measured 258 to 274 feet wide. The 



