Mr. H. T. Colebrooke's Remarks on tJie Setlej River. 359 



At this altitude the atmosphere exhibited that remarkable dark appearance 

 which has been often observed in elevated situations. The sun shone like 

 an orb of fire, without the least haze. At night, the part of the horizon 

 where the moon was expected to rise, could scarcely be distinguished 

 before the limb touched it ; and the stars and planets shone with a bril- 

 liancy never seen, unless at great heights. 



With a transit telescope of 30 inches, and a power of 30, stars of the fifth 

 magnitude were distinct in broad day ; but none of less size were perceptible. 

 At Subdtliu, 4,200 feet above the level of the sea, stars of the fourth 

 magnitude require a power of 40 to make them visible in the day. 



The temperature was greater than expected : the thermometer rose to 60° 

 in the shade, and at sunset was 42°. It sank to 30:^° before sunrise. 

 About nine in the forenoon a wind from the S.W. began ; it was at its 

 greatest strength at 3 p. m., and subsided at sunset. 



The climate is very different from that which is experienced in crossing 

 the outer range'* of the Himalaya at the same season. Here, at the height 

 of IG.OOO and 17,000 feet, is abundance of fuel (metoh, bearing a beautiful 

 yellow flower, and no prickles), good water, and a serene sky ; there, at an 

 inferior elevation, no firewood is nearer tlian five or six miles, the clouds 

 hang around the mountains, the sun is rarely visible, and showers of rain 

 are frequent. 



Not being able to prevail upon the Tartars to allow them to proceed a 

 step further, the travellers unwillingly began their return (27th of July). 

 They again traversed the Keubrang pass, and repeated their barometric 

 measurement of it with the same result; halted at Rishi Talam, 15,200 feet 

 high, two miles from their former stage at Zongchin, and proceeded by the 

 Gangtang pass to Rishi Irpu, on the H6ch6 river. 



At the hmit of vegetation (1 6,600 feet above the sea) it commenced 

 snowing, and they were involved in a dense haze : the guides missed their 

 way, knew not how to proceed, and became alarmed. They lialted, there- 

 fore, for a while ; and, the clouds clearing away for an instant, Messrs. 

 Gerard got s\ght of a. shagltar, or pile of stones, the bearing of wiiich they 

 took ; and being surrounded by mist, steered towards it by a pocket 

 compass. The ascent was steep, and they often scrambled over sharp- 

 pointed rocks. They proceeded a mile and a-half, guided by the compass ; 

 and the lower clouds clearing away, they found themselves within half a 



