INTRODUCTION. XXiil 
‘ture of 50°, and torrents frozen fast in a medium almost 20° above the freezing 
*¢ point.” 
Beyond this elevated table-land rises the lofty snowy range, which appears to over- 
top even the Indian Himalayas. This has been already mentioned at p. xi., as the 
Cailas or Kailas portion of the Himalayas, and is sometimes called the Tibetan Hima- 
layas, and is that in which probably the most elevated peaks, as Dhawalagiri, &c. 
remain yet to be more accurately measured. That there is such a range would appear 
probable, even if we had no evidence on the subject, by considering that the Indus 
flowing N.W., and the Burrampooter 8.E., both retain a course parallel to the Hima- 
layas, instead of proceeding eastward towards the lower levels of the greater portion of 
China. The portion of this range which separates the valley of the Sutlej from that of 
the Indus, near the sources of these rivers, was crossed by Mr. Moorcroft on his way 
to Ghartope. At Zinchin, elevated 16,136, the most eastern point which has been 
reached by visitors proceeding from Kunawur, the Messrs. Gerard saw a lofty snowy 
range, which seemed to run N. 60° W. to 8. 50° E. beyond the rounded mountains, 
which are seen across and to the eastward of the Sutlej. One of the surveyors (pro- 
bably the late Capt. Gerard) who has been already mentioned, states, from the crest of 
the Hungarung Pass, he saw in font a granite range, upon which the snow found a 
resting place only at 19,000 feet ; beyond it, through a break, were seen snowy moun- 
tains, appearing to rise out of the table-land on the banks of the Indus, “‘ pale with 
distance, and like the memory of something that we have seen.” From the angles of 
altitude which he observed, their pale outline, and the broad margin of the snow, he 
estimated that they could not be less than 29,000 feet in elevation. Dr. Gerard, in his 
visit to lake Chimororel, near the most westerly point he was able to reach on this 
elevated tract of country, remarks, that looking southward towards the Spiti, the land- 
scape appeared very sharply peaked, and in clusters of white tops; but in the N.E. 
the mountains were of a vast contour, and the snow more uniformly defined. 
The three preceding pages, having been in type ever since the previous parts were published, might now be 
greatly extended, as much interesting information has been obtained by the travels of Mr. Vigne and of Dr. 
Falconer, still further to the N. W. than was reached by Dr. Gerard; but as this would require considerable 
space, I confine myself to a few points. 
Mr. Vigne (who resided much in Cashmere, crossed the Indus, traced a part of i its course, and attempted to 
do so with the Nobra branch, visited Astore and Iskardo), has favoured me with a small collection of plants, 
which I will take some future opportunity of noticing. With respect to the Passes into Cashmere, he informs 
me, that though some are not more than 9,000 feet high, others are elevated as much as 12,000 feet. Speaking 
of the lakes, he says that Cashmere is full of them; the principal is called the Wullur lake or dul, and is 
thirty miles from E. to W. The most extraordinary is the Kosah nag, among the peaks of Peer Punjal, which 
is above the region of birches, and about three-quarters of a mile in length, has two outlets, but both are 
underground, one towards the plains and the other towards the valley. Baron Hiigel, J.A.S., March 1836, 
states, that the passes from Bimbur to Cashmere, and from this to Iskardo, are the same in height—13,000 
feet. The highest point of the Peer Punjal is 15,000 feet by the boiling point. The city of Cashmere (Srinuggue), 
is 6,300 feet above the sea. Lat. 34° 22’ 58”, long. 75° 12” 30”. : 
The Mountains of Tibet are usually at much the same elevation: that is, from 15,000 to 16,000 feet: but 
from any open summit, several mountains are seen that rise far above them, as Nanga Parbat, or Diarmal, 
d 2 3 which 
