THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS. a 
14°320, thermometer 27°, at one p.m.* Notwithstanding this elevation, I felt 
oppressed by the sun’s rays, though the air in the shade was freezing.” 
A little to the southward, and more to the eastward of Shipkee, the Keubrung. Pass 
forms the boundary between Kunawur and Chinese Tartary; though elevated eighteen 
thousand three hundred and thirteen feet, snow was only found by the Messrs. Gerard 
in sheltered places contiguous to the pass, and mountains leading to it about fifteen 
hundred feet more elevated were just tipped with snow. The Tama or Tartaric furze 
extended as high as seventeen thousand feet; beyond this, every thing was barren 
and desolate. 
At Zamsiri, Zinchin, and Bekhur, the same appearances were observed, as well as 
by Mr. Moorcroft still further to the eastward, in crossing from Neetee Ghat to Ghar- 
tope, the elevated plain which separates the Himalayan and Cailas ranges, which 
he describes as a dreary waste with a few furze bushes (species of Genista and 
Astragalus), but without a tree or shrub, ‘‘ the woolly plant, like everlasting, is 
probably one in Mr. M.’s collection, havmg the external appearance of a Leon- 
_topodium, with much-divided hairy leaves; besides these, Mr. M. only enumerates 
tufts of silky grass, and a species of moss; but in his collection there is also a 
diminutive Primula and a Pedicularis from near Daba. Beyond this, he notices gold- 
finches in poplars, and several flowering shrubs of Tamarisk, a new species of Myri- 
caria which I have also received from other parts of the hills. The rhubarb is probably 
R. spiciforme, or a new species distinct from R. Emodi. The animals enumerated as 
having been seen, are eagles, ravens, blue pigeons, partridges, larks, and linnets. The 
plains are also filled with the bural, yak, and shawl-wool goat; herds of wild horses 
and wild asses were seen, as also hares and marmots ; he describes the latter as being 
like a young hare, they are therefore most probably the Prka. 
In crossing the Cailas range, he saw numerous hares, and a bird resembling grouse, 
probably the etraogallus of General Hardwicke and Mr. Gray; also, Brahminee geese, 
Anas Casarca. At Ghartope, he notices the Gurkur or wild ass, and mentions that with 
frosty nights the thermometer frequently exceeded 80° in the day-time in July. Still 
further to the eastward, Messrs. Turner and Saunders, in their journey to Teshoo 
Loomboo, likewise describe the elevated plains as bare of vegetation, the atmosphere 
dry and clear, the cold excessive, with little snow, but the sun’s rays as very powerful. 
: if 
* The date is not mentioned. Using the mean results for October observed in Calcutta, this gives twenty 
thousand four hundred and nineteen feet as the elevation.—( Note by the este of the Gleanings in Science, 
vol, i. p. 107.) This valuable periodical, established in Calcutta under er modest title by Capt. Herbert, ne 
from its great success, been permitted by the Society to assume the igh’ “ The Journal “4 the Asiatic 
Society.” The first volume, completed under the editorship of my talented friend Mr. James sre rt: 
that it is not unworthy of the name, being filled with abstracts of papers presented to the Asiatic Society of 
Calcutta, and with scientific communications respecting the country from correspondents in India.—(Vide 
Philosophical Magazine, May 1833, p. 371.) 
