360 Mr. H. T. Colebrooke's Remarks on the Setkj River. 



mile of the shaghar. The summit of the pass was measured barometrically, 

 18,295 feet above the sea. 



A stream, that unites with the Tagld, lay upon the left the greater part 

 of the way ascending the pass ; they descended it along the Huclio, whicii 

 comes from the left, where there is a great expanse of snow. They 

 followed its course to Rishi Irpu. The valley is generally half a mile ' 

 broad. The river is picturesque : in one part a clear and shallow stream, 

 in another it thunders over rocks in a succession of sparkling cascades. 

 There are several arches of snow over it. In several places its course was 

 partly arrested by rocks from above. It is concealed for a considerable 

 space by a huge pile of stones, and it forces its way underneath, bursting 

 forth in a large body of water. In other places it forms large deep lakes, 

 and leaps over the embankments, with tremendous noise, in sheets of white 

 spray. 



Limestone, which had been the prevailing rock since they first met with 

 it in the vicinity of Zongchen, near the Tcigld, became more rare as they 

 approached Irpu, and disappeared near that place. It is there succeeded 

 by mica slate. 



Next day they proceeded down the valley of the Hochb to Ddlding, a 

 place visited likewise in the preceding year, in sight of the Setlej, and of 

 the village of Pui, on its banks. By the way they passed the highest cul- 

 tivation yet seen, consisting of barley, phapur, and turnips, at an eleva- 

 tion of 13,600 feet above the sea. A little lower, the ground was covered 

 with thyme, sage, and many other aromatic plants, besides juniper, sweet- 

 briar and gooseberries. At PM there are vineyards and groves of apricots:* 

 at Ddbling, much cultivation, and plantations of apricots and walnuts. 



After a halt of four days for astronomical observations, during which 

 time the temperature was warm, varying from 6l° at sunrise to 85° at 

 noon, the wind blowing very strongly from the S.W., and the sky fre- 

 quently obscured with light clouds attended with a little rain ; they moved 

 (4th August) along the banks of the Setlej, or in the bed of the river, to 

 Nanigia. On the right margin of the river, the mass of rock (granite) is 



• The apricots form a part of the subsistence of the people. At this season they are pulled, 

 and exposed to the sun on the roofs of houses ; when dried, they are not unlike prunes. 



