XXii INTRODUCTION. 
extending from the Himalayas to the Indus, descends from the table-land, and entering 
chasms in the mountains, passes through the province of Kunawur, v. p. 34, to the 
southern face of the Himalayas, with a gradually decreasing elevation of its bed from 
10,005 at Shipkee, to 5,200 near Wangtoo, to the S.W. of which the snowy mountains 
terminate ; whence to Roopur there is a further fall of 4,000 feet to about 1,100, the ele- 
vation of the river, where it enters the plains of India, distant about eighty miles from 
the Jumna. As theelevation of these rivers is much the same, both gradually declining 
to the sea, the distance by which they are separated not too great, and the country 
consisting of level plains, it is not unreasonable to hope that they may one day be joined 
by a canal navigable for boats, by which the produce of Central Asia might be conveyed 
down either the Ganges or the Indus, and that of other parts of the world conveyed up 
the same rivers. 
One striking peculiarity of Central Asiais the lakes by which it is covered. Of these, 
Manasarowur has excited particular interest on account of the anomalous nature of the 
information, first communicated by Mr. Moorcroft. He described it as being fifteen 
miles long, and about eleven broad, and as having no streams issuing out of its northern, 
southern, or western sides, nor on its eastern, according to the accounts brought by two 
natives, whom he sent to examine the point. Captain Herbert also learnt from a Lama, 
who lived within four days’ journey of the lake, that no rivers issued out of it. Other 
testimonies contradict this evidence, and it is difficult to ascertain the truth, as it has 
been thought an improbable circumstance that a mountain-lake, fed by such vast snows, 
should dispose of the waters pouring into it by mere evaporation. Lake Rawan-hrad, 
supposed to give origin to the Sutlej, but which Mr. Moorcroft had not an opportunity 
of examining, he estimates to be four times as large as Manasarowur. Though we 
are not likely to have any direct testimony on the subject at present, it is interesting 
to find that Dr. Gerard records a similar set of phenomena, as characterizing Lake 
Chimororel, along which he skirted on his return from his attempt to reach Ludak. This 
he found elevated 18,000 feet, and in travelling along its shores found its whole circum- 
ference embayed by mountains, which on its N.E. shore entered the region of snow only 
at 19,000 feet of elevation above the sea. Neitherthis, nor another lake, which Dr. G. 
met with, had any exit, thus confirming the information given by Mr. Moorcroft 
respecting Manasarowur, on this point. He also found, at the time (July) he visited 
this lake, that its waters were much below its maximum of elevation; as the dry 
channels of water-courses, and the highest water-marks upon the shore being nearly 
five feet higher, made it probable that these lakes attain their maximum of elevation in 
spring, when “‘ returning warmth breaks up the frozen surface, and thaws the immediate 
snow.” Dr. G. further remarks, that if we consider the dryness of the climate, and the 
increased evaporation in so rarified an atmosphere, the phenomena are not so unaccount- 
able as they may appear to be at first sight. As instances of the aridity of the atmos- 
phere, he mentions, that frost is not visible upon grass, even “ though the thermometer 
‘* be at zero, and that the traveller beholds ice permanent and unthawed in a tempera- 
** ture 
