Mr. H. T. Colesrooa'e's Remarks oti the Setlej River. 363 



is a Lama's residence, inhabited throughout the year. The fields are par- 

 titioned by dikes of granite. At Taz-hi-gang they are enclosed by barberry 

 and gooseberry bushes. 



The seasons are similar to those of our northern latitudes, the grain 

 being sown in March and April, and reaped in August and September. 

 Snow generally falls towards the end of October. It seldom exceeds two 

 feet in depth, but does not leave the ground for nearly six months. Want 

 of moisture in the air prevents its earlier descent, since the beginning of 

 October is winter, under a clear sky. In the middle of October 1818, the 

 thermometer at sunrise was seldom above 20° ; now (in August) the tem- 

 perature was 75° at noon, and never below .52°. 



The effects of particular exposures and localities towards the develop- 

 ment of vegetation cannot be more strongly contrasted than between this 

 and Namgia; for, although here 3,000 feet higher, the crops were much 

 farther advanced. Vast extent of arid surface on every side reverberates 

 a surprising warmth, and favours an early harvest. 



The leaves of poplai' are given to cattle. Besides these, junipers and a 

 few willows are the only trees at this elevation. Firewood is of furze 

 (Jama) alone, and it is scarce. 



Messrs. Gerard were desirous of verifying by trigonometric measurement 

 the elevation of their old high station on Pargei'tl, just above Ndko. In 

 1818, Capt. G. made it 19,411 feet by three barometers, which agreed ex- 

 actly (14.675 inches). In 1820 two other barometers were taken to this 

 spot, and they showed 14.67 inches. The result of the trigonometric 

 measurement now gave 7,447 feet above the former camp, which being 

 11,995 feet, makes the extreme height of the peak 19,442 feet above the 

 level of the sea, differing 31 feet from the barometric measurement. 



They proceeded along the banks of the Li to C/iango. Part of the road 

 traversed a plain studded with enormous masses of rock, seeming, as 

 Capt. G. remarks, to have been under water at no very distant period. 

 The road then lay along the bank of a rivulet, over waterworn stones of 

 many sorts, and crossing the stream enters the plain of Chango. The 

 village is fully 10,000 feet above the sea ; but this elevation does not pre- 

 vent its enjoying a sultry summer, the temperature rising to 80° in August. 

 The situation is pleasant, unlike the rude and sterile character of the 

 country. The seasons are at least a month earlier than at Ndkd : seed time 

 begins in March, and harvest in July and August. Snow falls from No- 



3 B 



