340 LADAK. 



which we struck the river, it is most uninter- 

 esting, hot, dusty, and disagreeable, traversing 

 a barren district, from, three to four miles in 

 width, extending from the Indus, to the foot 

 of the mountain range to our left. The 

 villages, although poor and mean, being 

 generally planted with poplars and willows, 

 look pretty, and are a great relief to the 

 monotonous scenery around. 



At Ladak, we were received with all the 

 honours that could be paid. Sir Henry 

 Lawrence had written to Gholab Sing, and 

 he had sent orders on to Ladak, that every 

 possible civility and attention should be paid 

 us. The head-man, his representative, came 

 out attended by all liis train, to meet and 

 welcome us to Ladak. We were conducted 

 in state to a nice garden, where the poplars 

 which grew luxuriantly, afforded a pleasant 

 shade. Besides tlie poplar, the willow 

 is the only other tree that thrives. The 

 authorities were very anxious to fire a 

 salute from the fort in my honour, but I 

 declined it, upon the plea that here I was 



