272 Captain Gerard's Account of a Survey 



To the east and south-east was seen a low part of the Hi- 

 malayan range. Its altitude is much less than that of Shatitl ; 

 but it is rendered impassable by a perpendicular wall of gneiss, 

 that forms an impracticable barrier for several miles. 



The snow became more frequent as they ascended, till they 

 attained the crest of a ridge, at the elevation of 13,450 feet, 

 where it is continuous at that early season. A month later, 

 it would be dissolved. Upon the snow, at the greater height 

 of Shattil, were many insects like mosquitoes ; at first they 

 were torpid; but sunshine revived them. Some birds were 

 seen, resembling ravens. Mosses were found on the few rocks. 



The travellers halted for the night at Kanijan, under the 

 shade of a large rock, at the height of 13,400 feet, whence the 

 steep ascent of the pass begins. There were plenty of flowers 

 where the snow had melted, but no bushes. The firewood 

 was brought from the last camp. 



From this spot the ascent seemed appalling. The crest was 

 nearly 2,200 feet higher. Here and there a rock projected 

 its black head : all else was a dreary solitude of unfathomable 

 snow, aching to the sight, and without trace of a path. 



The travellers found the snow, which was soft at mid-day, 

 afford good footing, and reached the summit with less fatigue 

 than they anticipated. They remained the night and follow- 

 ing day at the crest of the pass, and suffered much from head- 

 ache and difficulty of breathing, usually experienced at such 

 elevated positions. It snowed in the evening. The tempera- 

 ture did not rise above 41° at noon : it was 24° and 26° at sun- 

 rise (9th and 10th of June.) 



On the subsequent day, they descended upon the same side, 

 and proceeded along the dell of the Jndreti, a branch of the 

 Pabar river, rising near Shdtul, and halted on the bank of 

 a rivulet called Dingru, at an elevation of 12,300 feet, just 

 above the limit of the forest. The lowest point in the dell 

 was 11 ,100 feet. Leeks were gathered at the height of 1 2,000 

 feet. The ground was here a rich sward, cut up in grooves 

 by a large kind of field-rat, without a tail. (Spalax, " Mus 

 typhlus ?") 



Captain Gerard and his brother continued to explore the 

 glens and valleys of the tributary streams of the Pabar river ; 



