76 VIEWS OF NATURE. 



elevation of the snow-line in the re-entering angles of the 

 chain. 



" I conclude, then, that 15,500 feet, the mean of the heights 

 at the most and least prominent points, should be assigned as 

 the mean elevation of the snow-line at the southern limit of 

 the belt of perpetual snow in Kumaon; and 1 conceive that 

 whatever error there may be in this estimate will be found 

 to lie on the side of diminution rather than of exaggeration. 



"This result appears to accord well with what has been 

 observed in the Bissehir range. The account given by Dr. 

 Gerard of his visit to the Shatul Pass on this range, which he 

 undertook expressly for the purpose of determining the height 

 of the snow-line, contains the only definite information as to 

 the limit of the perpetual snow at the southern edge of the 

 belt that is to be found in the whole of the published writings 

 of the Gerards ; and the following is a short abstract of his 

 observations. Dr. Gerard reached the summit of the Shatul 

 Pass, the elevation of which is 15,500 feet, on the 9th of 

 August, 1822, and remained there till the 15th of the same 

 month. He found the southern slope of the range generally 

 free from snow, and he states that it is sometimes left without 

 any whatever. On the top of the pass itself there was no 

 snow ; but on the northern slope of the mountain it lay as far 

 down as about 14,000 feet. On his arrival rain was falling, 

 and out of the four days of his stay on this pass it either 

 rained or snowed for the greater part of three. The fresh 

 snow that fell during this time did not lie below 16,000 feet, 

 and some of the more precipitous rocks remained clear even 

 up to 17,000 feet. 



" The conclusion to which Dr. Gerard comes from these 

 facts is, that the snow-line on the southern face of the Bissehir 

 range is at 15,000 feet above the sea. But I should myself 

 be more inclined, from his account, to consider that 15,500 

 feet was nearer the truth; and in this view I am confirmed 

 by verbal accounts of the state of the passes on this range, 

 which I have obtained from persons of my acquaintance, who 

 have crossed them somewhat later in the year. The differ- 

 ence, however, is after all trifling. 



" Such is the direct evidence that can be offered on the 

 height of the snow-line at the southern limit of the belt of 

 perpetual snow: some additional light, may, however, be 



