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



vember to March, but it is seldom a foot in depth ; and in April and May, 

 rain is frequent. The grain crops are those noticed at Ndko, with 6gal? 

 millet, and fine fields of turnips, pease, and beans, all well tasted. There 

 are likewise many apricots. 



The plain lies east and west, in a dell, through which flow two streams, 

 that no sooner escape from their dark and winding passages, which are 

 bounded by lofty and inaccessible crags, nearly perpendicular, than they 

 are conducted in tamer conduits, by the industry of man, to the fields, 

 which rise one above another in terraces. This glen is terminated on the 

 north and south by bare thirsty ridges, on which nothing animate appears. 

 On the west is the Li or Split river, flowing in a tranquil expanse of bed. 

 On the east, at the head of the plain, is a high-peaked mountain, on whose 

 summit rests snow. 



The next march was to Changrezhing by the Chdrang lama pass, of which 

 the elevation is 12,000 feet. Here limestone was again met with, as well 

 as clayslate, &c. Pebbles imbedded in clay, and small rounded stones are 

 numerous ; all having the appearance of having been acted upon by water, 

 although the Spiti is nearly 3,000 feet below this level, and no rivulet is 

 near. The Chdld-dulpo, a considerable stream from the eastward, extremely 

 muddy, and rushing with inconceivable rapidity between perpendicular 

 cliffs of granite and mica slate, at an altitude of 11,400 feet above the sea, 

 was crossed by a wooden bridge. The breadth of the stream was twenty- 

 five feet. 



Changrezhing is a dependency of Chango, where are a few ruinous houses, 

 inhabited in summer. Its height is 12,500 feet above the sea. The grains 

 cultivated are wheat, barley, phapur, and Siberian barley. The rocks in 

 the vicinity are granite, gneiss, and mica. 



Having understood that Chinese were at a short distance in front to stop 

 them, Messrs. Gerard did not move their baggage, but advanced to meet 

 the opposite party. They crossed two rivulets, near which they saw the 

 black currant in the highest perfection, and larger than any which they 

 had hitherto met with. They found fifty Tartars awaiting their arrival a 

 mile S.W. of Churet, the first Chinese village. Not being able to prevail 

 on them to allow of their proceeding, they returned to Changrezhing. 



In the afternoon they visited the confluence of the SpUi witli the Zatig- 

 cham or Pdrdti river, which comes from the N.E. The last is the larger 

 river, being ninety-eight feet broad ; the Spiti (from the N.W.) but seventy- 



