174 HEIGHT OF THE SNOM-LINE. 



The temple of Kedar-nath, according to a mean of five 

 barometrical measurements, is 11,897 feet above Calcutta, 

 or 12,000 feet above the level of the sea ; but no snow 

 remained in the vicinity of the temple later than the beg:m- 

 nina of July; so that under the latitude of 30° 40' at the 

 last-mentioned elevation, the snows were not perpetual on 

 the southern side of the Himmaleh mountains. 



Captain Webb's observations on the summit of the Nitee 

 Ghaut afford another example of this interesting fact. At 

 the elevation of 16,814 feet, not a vestige of snow was to be 

 seen on the Ghaut, nor upon the projecting shoulder of the 

 mountain-ridge, rising about 300 feet on the western side 

 of the pass ; and we may hence conclude that the height of 

 the snow-line on the northern side of the Himmaleh range 

 cannot be less than 17,000 feet. The great elevation of the 

 table-land of Tartary is, from its connexion with the distri- 

 bution of the snowy boundary in these regions, deserving of 

 particular notice. By observations made on the ridge of the, 

 Nitee pass. Captain Webb found the Sutledge to flow in a 

 plain 14,924 feet above the sea ; yet so far are the U7ides, or 

 great plains, from being buried in eternal snow, as our com- 

 mon estimates would lead us to suppose, that the banks of 

 the river afford the finest pasture for thousands of quadru- 

 peds throughout the year. The town of Daba appears to 

 be inhabited all the year, and not a temporary residence. 

 In the neitrhbourhood of this place and near Doompoo, both 

 considerably higher than the bed of the Sutledge, Captain 

 Webb was informed that the finest crops of the grain called 

 ora were gathered, irom which the natives make their bread. 

 Captain Gerrard, when proceeding by the Charang pass, 

 17,348 feet high, to the valley of Nangalti, says many beds of 

 snow were crossed, and that at the height of about 16,300 feet 

 the " continuous snow-hcds conrmenccd." In another place, 

 however, he remarks that the mountains in the neighbour- 

 hood of Charang are all of blue slate, naked to their tops, and 

 exhibiting decay and barrenness in their most frightful forms. 

 They tower in sharp and detached groups to about 18,000 

 feet, no vegetation approaching their bases, nor do their 

 summits offer any rest to snow. Upon the left bank of the 

 Tagla, mountains 1 6,000 feet high appear, on which no snow J 



was observed. The summits on the right bank seem to be M 



waa uucic 1 * »-*^« -I ».^ ^v— --f-) 



18,000 feet, and with but httle snow in streaks. 1 he moun- 



