MOUNTAIN PASSES. 17 
collected last year at Kunawar, yet from the different season I added 
many which were new to me, though I am inclined to think, and it is 
a good proof that the vegetation of N. W. Himalaya is now tolerably 
well known, hardly a single species which has not been described. 
On the 19th of June I had attained an elevation of upwards of 
10,500 feet in the valley which I was ascending. This was nearly the 
highest limit of trees, only Birches and Willows rising higher. The 
proximity of vast masses of snow seemed to have a marked effect on 
the climate, as Pine forests rise considerably higher than I have just 
mentioned on the outer ranges. Next day I got completely into the 
region of snow, though my camp, not far from the termination of an 
enormous glacier, was only elevated 11,300 feet. It was on a consi- 
derable plain, covered with small Willow trees and Birches partly in 
leaf, and partly, where still surrounded with snow, not showing a 
symptom of vegetation. On the 21st, continuing to ascend, I en- 
camped on a small bare patch of ground by the side of a glacier, at an 
elevation of 14,500 feet, and on the 22nd I crossed the pass, the 
height of which I found to be upwards of 18,000 feet. Unfortunately 
the day was unfavourable, for it commenced snowing at day-break, and 
eontinued without intermission till the afternoon, so that I saw less of 
the grand scenery through which I was passing than I could have 
desired, and had not, as I had anticipated, an extensive view of sur- 
rounding countries from the top. The whole ascent was over the 
surface of a glacier, or over huge piles of snow-covered rocks by its 
side. The descent was also along glacier-filled valleys, and I was 
somewhat surprised to find that after the glacier in the valley by which 
I descended had terminated, another much larger, wider, and more 
gently sloping valley, which I afterwards joined, was filled with a pro- 
digious mass of ice. In this second valley about half a mile beyond 
the end of the glacier, I encamped among huge stones at an elevation 
of 14,000 feet, and next day, continuing my journey, reached the 
western bank of the Zanskar river, running through an open valley gene- 
rally quite barren, but here and there with small villages and cultiva- 
tion. I had somehow taken it for granted that I should find a road 
along the Zanskar river to Le, since it joins the Indus about ten miles 
below that town; on enquiry, however, I found that its banks were 
in the lower part rocky and impracticable, and that the only good road 
