of the Valley of the Setlej River. 877 



in numerous black spires, to about 9000 feet higher, or nearly 

 20,000 feet above the level of the sea. Approaching Chetkul, 

 the dell becomes more contracted ; the right bank becoming 

 very precipitous, and almost mural to the Baspd. The alti- 

 tude of the village is about 11,400 feet, and the highest fields 

 are scarcely 200 feet more. The valley continues about 800 

 yards wide for two or three miles ; the Baspd then makes a 

 bend to the southward, and the view is shut up by snowy 

 mountains of great height. 



From Chetkul the travellers attempted .the Kiml'id pass, at 

 the head of the valley of the Ritsu river, a large stream, de- 

 rived from a double source, one branch rising in the snow of 

 Sagla pass, which bears nearly south ; the other, or smallest, 

 in the Kiml'id, about S.W. Above the elevation of 13,300 

 feet, the level of the highest birches, the Rusu is increased, 

 in rapidity and turbulence, to a torrent, and foams in dread- 

 ful agitation and noise. Still higher up, the road ascends 

 gradually, upon snow of immense thickness in the channel of 

 the current, which now and then shows itself in deep blue 

 lakes. The travellers passed along the margin of one, 150 

 feet in diameter : the way was extremely dangerous, upon ice 

 sloping abruptly to the water ; in this there was no footing, 

 till notches were cut with a hatchet, an operation which long- 

 delayed their progress. Latterly, they travelled over mounds 

 of unfathomable snow, so loose as scarcely to be capable of 

 supporting them at the depth of three feet. The guides had 

 snow-shoes, which were at least five or six inches in breadth. 

 They said, that early in the morning, before the sun had power, 

 the snow would bear the weight of a loaded person ; and in 

 May and J une, when the pass is most frequented, it does not 

 sink at any time of the day. 



The travellers reached the elevation of 15,500 feet, where 

 the pass appeared to be 1400 or 1500 feet higher, over vast 

 fields of snow. 



The dell is broad (half a mile wide,) and covered with snow 

 in high wreaths. The mountains, which have a S.E. expo- 

 sure, are nearly bare, a few patches of snow only appearing at 

 great heights. The line of cliffs may be 17,500 feet. On the 

 other side, the mountains are nearly of the same height, nnd 



