338 Lieutenant R. Strachey oh the 



was distinctly seen, apparently quite free from snow. In our 

 ascent to tlie Balch pass no snow was observed on any of the 

 southern spurs of the range, and only one or two very small 

 patches could be seen from the summit on the north side. 

 The average height of the top of this range can hardly be 

 more than 500 feet greater than that of the pass ; and as a 

 whole it certainly does not enter the region of perpetual snow. 

 As viewed from the plains of Hundes, it cannot be said to 

 appear snowy, a few only of the peaks being tipped. 



We I'eturned to Milam via Chirchun. The whole of the 

 ascent to the Lilkhur pass was perfectly free from snow to 

 the very top, i.e., 18,300 feet, and many of the neighbouring- 

 mountains were bare still higher. The next ridge on this 

 route is Jainti-dhura, which is passed at an elevation of 

 18,500 feet, but still without crossing the least portion of 

 snow. The line of perpetual snow is, howevei', evidently 

 near ; for though the Jainti ridge was quite free, and some 

 of the peaks near us were clear probably to upwards of 

 19,000 feet, yet in more sheltered situations unbroken snow 

 could be seen considerably below us, and, on the whole, I 

 think that 18,500 feet must be nearly the average height of 

 the snow-line at this place. 



M. Humboldt's list of heights for the northern slope is as 

 follows : — 



Toises. English feet. 



Webb 2600 or 16,600 



Moorcroft, 



A. Gerard, 

 Jacquemont, 



Webb. — The height given on 



2900 ... 18,500 

 3200 ... 20,500 

 3078 ... 19,700 



he authority of Captain Webb 

 is simply that of the Niti pass, which Captain Webb crossed 

 without snow in August 1819, and Moorcroft in June* and 

 August 1811. The Niti pass is notoriously the easiest of all 

 the Garhwdl and Kumaon passes, and remains open long 

 after tnose from Juhar, which I have described above, have 

 become impracticable ; and it is held to be a certain way of 

 escape from Thibet, by the Juhiris, should a fall of snow more 



* Not January, as is erroneously printed in the " Asie Centrale.'' Vide 

 Asiatic Researches, vol. xii., pp. 417-494. 



