of the Valley of the Setlej River. 33 



water at no very distant period. The road then lay along the 

 bank of a rivulet, over water- worn stones of many sorts, and 

 crossing the stream, enters the plain of Chango. The village 

 is fully 10,000 feet above the sea ; but this elevation does not 

 prevent its enjoying a sultry summer, the temperature rising 

 to 80° in August. The situation is pleasant, unlike the rude 

 and sterile character of the country. The seasons are at least 

 a month earlier than at Ndko: seed-time begins in March, 

 and harvest in July and August. Snow falls from November 

 to March,' but it is seldom a foot in depth ; and in April and 

 May, rain is frequent. The grain crops are those noticed at 

 Ndko, with ogal f millet, and fine fields of turnips, pease, and 

 beans, all well tasted. There are likewise many apricots. 



The plain lies east and west, in a dell, through which flow 

 two streams, that no sooner escape from their dark and wind- 

 ing passages, which are bounded by lofty and inaccessible 

 crags, nearly perpendicular, than they are conducted in tamer 

 conduits, by the industry of man, to the fields, which rise 

 one above another in terraces. This glen is terminated on the 

 north and south by bare thirsty ridges, on which nothing ani- 

 mate appears. On the west is the Li or Spiti river, flowing 

 in a tranquil expanse of bed. On the east, at the head of the 

 plain, is a high-peaked mountain, on whose summit rests snow. 



The next march was to Changrezhing by the Chdrang lama 

 pass, of which the elevation is 1 2,600 feet. Here limestone 

 was again met with, as well as clay-slate, &c. Pebbles im- 

 bedded in clay, and small rounded stones are numerous, all 

 having the appearance of having been acted upon by water, 

 although the Spiti is nearly 3000 feet below this level, and 

 no rivulet is near. The Chdld-dokpo, a considerable stream 

 from the eastward, extremely muddy, and rushing with incon- 

 ceivable rapidity between perpendicular cliffs of granite and 

 mica-slate, at an altitude of 11,400 feet above the sea, was 

 crossed by a wooden bridge. The breadth of the stream was 

 25 feet. 



Changrezhing is a dependency of Chango, where are a few 

 ruinous houses, inhabited in summer. Its height is 12,500 

 feet above the sea. The grains cultivated are wheat, barley, 



VOL. VI. NO. I. JAN, 1827. C 



