Mr. H. T. CoLEBBOorB^ s Remarks on the Sellej River. 3.0.5 



Having collected from the surrounding villages, supplies for ten days, 

 Messrs. Gerard proceeded to examine the valley of the I'dgld river, whici) 

 has its source in Chinese Tartar}'. They travelled to Nisang on the 

 Tdgla), a Tartar village, already visited both in 1818 and 18-20; crossing 

 the Timgrang pass, which was again measured, and the previous measure- 

 ment (1.3,739 feet) confirmed. 



The pass leads over a spur, which runs down to the Setlej river, from a 

 cluster of snowy mountains, upwards of 20,000 feet high. The rocks are 

 slate : it easily splits into large even slabs, whicii are well adapted for carvin"- 

 the sacred Tartar sentences upon them. Across the Setlej the mountains are 

 of white granite, breaking into gravel, and more abrupt than on the liither 

 side. 



They proceeded along the banks of the Tdgld to U'rchd, and thence to 

 Rakor, through the Riithingi pass, and near the source of a rivulet of that 

 name, after passing the Khdti, which descends very steeply from the 

 Himalaya on the south, in which direction a peak of vast altitude is visible. 

 The elevation of the pass is 14.,63S feet ; that of the resting-place at Rakor, 

 14,100 feet. A few birches are growing 200 or 300 feet lower. 



Upon the left bank of the Tdgld, the height of the mountains is upwards 

 of 16,000 feet, and no snow appears. The rocks are brown clay slate, 

 and mica slate. Upon the right bank of the river, the mountains 

 appear to be all clay slate, crumbling into soil, and forming a natural 

 declivity. The summits seem to be 18,000 feet high, at least ; and there is. 

 very little snow in streaks. Farther to the east is a large mountain, white 

 with snow, and near it a naked ridge of rocks, ending in a number of 

 sharp points, apparently formed of slate. In the vicinity of the source of 

 the Ruthingi, several conical points are seen covered with snow. 



The travellers continued along the banks of the Tdgld to Zongchen, 

 passing several streams which fall into it, and a larger one named Kegoche, 

 which comes from the south (S. by W.), and one less considerable, called 

 Langiirge, from the S.E., both very muddy. The Tdgld itself is quite 

 clear, and its course is from the N.E. They crossed at once by a sango. 



The path lay upon broken slate and slippery soil, then upon inclined 

 faces of rock ; at one time ascending steeply upon loose stones; at another, 

 descending abruptly upon rude steps and scaffolding, projecting over 

 the stream, and between cliffs that subtend an angle of G0° or 65° on 

 either side. Now and then these crags are perpendicular for 200 or 300 

 Vol. I. 3 A 



