578 STEWART: FLora or LADAK, WESTERN TIBET 
arriving there July 30. August 2 we climbed to the Khardong 
Pass (17,500 ft.) but a snowstorm made it impossible to see what 
grew near the summit. This was the highest point reached in 
1gI2. 
Leaving Leh we returned to Kashmir by another route. From 
Bosgo we took the old and higher road via Timisgam and Ting- 
mogung, rejoining the new road at Khalotse. August 14 we left 
the main path below Moolbeck and turned off toward Suru, 
crossing the Sapi La (16,000 ft.) on the 16th and visiting the 
Pakartse on the roth. The 21st we crossed the Yarungshan La 
(15,500 ft.) and returned to Kashmir via the Wardwan Valley. 
With another party I returned to Ladak in the same way (via 
the Zoji) in 1913 and arrived at Leh by the end of the month of 
July, staying a week in the vicinity. August 6th we started on 
up the Indus, passing the famous Himis Monastery and leaving 
the Indus at Upshi in order to visit Rupshu, reputed to be the 
highest inhabited part of the world. The inhabitants are nomads, 
depending for their livelihood on their herds of yaks, goats and 
sheep. From Gya we ascended the Takalung La (17,500 ft.) and 
descended to the plains that seem to be the favorite home of the 
wild ass, Equus kyang, and the Tibetan hare. August 9, we 
visited the salt lake called the Tsokar, one of the many Central | 
Asian lakes without an outlet. August 12, we crossed the Lacha- 
lung La (16,600 ft.) and the Baralacha (16,000 ft.) the 15th, — 
arriving in Kyelang, the main village of Lahoul, the next day. 
Thence via the Rotang and Kulu we went on to Simla. 
Travelling on foot we covered about 400 miles in Ladak each 
summer. Not many novelties were found, though four or five 
things seem to be new. In order to make sure a trip to Calcutta 
or Kew would be necessary. With the exception of a few from 
Kargil (8,700 ft.) my specimens, which amount to about 475 
species, were gathered at altitudes of from 9,000 to 17,500 feet. 
FLORISTICS 
Though the flora on the Indian side of the “Great range”’ of 
the Himalayas, which separates Kashmir from Ladak, is luxuriant 
and abundant, the opposite is true on the other side. In Kashmir, 
forests with Betula utilis at the upper limit are found up to about 
