856 Mr. H. T. Colebrooke's Remarks on the Setlej River. 



feet, and they even overhang the pathway. Large snowbeds conceal the 

 river for several hundred yards : an immense load of stones and gravel lies 

 above the snow. In one place the accumulation of rocks, which have fallen 

 from the surrounding peaks, is sixty or seventy feet thick ; and the river is 

 seen rushing from beneath a large vault, whose under surface is frozen 

 snow. 



The height of Zoncheng is 14,700 feet, which, in lat. 31° 36', according 

 to received theory, should be buried under everlasting snow. The situation, 

 however, is far different. On every side of the glen, which is a bowshot 

 broad, appeared gently-sloping hills, for the most part covered with Tdmd 

 (Tartaric furze). The banks of tlie river were covered witli grass turf, 

 and prickly bushes. Around, the land was covered with verdure ; flocks 

 of sheep were browsing, and deer leaping : altogether it was a romantic 

 spot, wanting but trees to make it delightful. 



During the march the sun was found at times powerful ; but the tempe- 

 rature was evidently decreasing with the elevation. Tiie highest observed 

 in the day (23d of July) was 08°. 



The rocks were limestone ; the soil a stiff yellow clay, rent in every 

 direction by small fissures, and seeming to have been under water. The 

 surface was ground to dust. 



The next stage was to Zamsiri, by the Keubrang pass ; after tracing the 

 Tdgld (crossed frequently by snow-beds), until it was reduced to an incon- 

 siderable rivulet at the foot of the pass. 



Tiie ascent of the pass is by no means steep, the angle being only 19° 

 or 20°. But the difficulty of breathing, and severe head-aches, which 

 all the party, not excepting their Tartar guides, experienced more or 

 less, rendered the exertion of walking very laborious. As they advanced, 

 vegetation became more scarce, till at length it wholly disappeared ; and 

 the last mile presented a scene of solitude and desolation. 



The elevation was found by barometric measurement to be 18,313 feet 

 above the sea. The pass is reckoned the boundary between Kuiid-dar and 

 that part of Chinese Tartary which is under the authority of the Grand 

 Lama of Lahasa. 



There was very little snow in sheltered situations contiguous to it, but 

 none in tiie pass itself Several birds were heard, and especially the call 

 of a species of pheasant, which lives near the snow. 



The mountains enclosing the dell of the Tdgld river, which lead to the 



