370 Mr. H. T. Colebbooke's Remarks on the Setlej River. 



since the pathway is often obliterated in a few days by fresh showers of 

 spUnters. 



" Our elevation was now upwards of 1.5,000 feet, although we had but 

 ascended in company with the river, against its stream. Here only began 

 our toils, and we scaled the slope of the mountain slowly ; respiration was 

 laborious, and we felt exhausted at every step. The crest of the pass was 

 not visible, and we saw no limit to our exertions. 



" The road inclined at an angle of 30°, and passed under vast ledges of 

 limestone. The projections frowned above us in new and horrid forms, 

 and our situation was different from any thing we had yet experienced. 



" Long before we got up, we were troubled with severe headaches, and 

 our respiration became so hurried and oppressive, that we were compelled 

 to sit down every few yards ; and even then we could scarcely inhale a suffi- 

 cient supply of air. The least motion was accompanied with extreme debility 

 and a depression of spirits, and thus we laboured for two miles. 



" The last half mile was over perpetual snow, sinking witii the foot from 

 three to twelve inches, the fresh covering of the former night. The direct 

 road leads in the centre of the gap, but we made a circuit to avoid the 

 danger of being swallowed up in one of the deep rents, which were now 

 covered up with the new snow. 



" The day was cloudy, and a strong wind half froze us. The rocks 

 were falling on every side, and we narrowly escaped destruction. We twice 

 saw large blocks of stone pass with incredible velocity through the line of 

 our people, and between two of them not four feet apart. 



" We reached the summit of the pass named Mdrierang at half past two 

 p. m. Its elevation is 18,612 feet by barometric measurement.* There is 

 here a very circumscribed spot, where is a shaghdr, or pile of stones, free 

 from snow. 



" Leaving the pass, we travelled over snow, and descended gently for a 

 mile. The wind blew with great violence, and benumbed us; but the sun 

 shone bright and caused a reflexion that affected our eyes, but did not 

 inflame them much : for at this season the snow is soft and somewhat soiled ; 

 but in winter, when it is frozen and sparkles like diamonds, the inflamma- 

 tion is very distressing and painful. 



The particulars of the measurement are omitted — C. 



