Limit of Perpetual Snow in the Himalaya. 245 
faces exposed to view from the south are for the most part very 
abrupt, and snow never accumulates on them to any great extent. 
This in some measure will account for the height to which the 
snow is seen to have receded on the eastern exposures, that is, 
upwards of 17,000 feet. On the western exposures the ground 
is less steep, and the snow is said to have been observed ata 
considerable less elevation; but it was in very small quantities, 
and had probably fallen lately, so that [ am inclined to think that 
its height, viz., about 15,000 feet, rather indicates the elevation 
below which the light autumnal falls of snow were incapable of 
lying, than that of the inferior edge of the perpetual snow. It 
is further to be understood, that below this level of 15,000 feet, 
the mountains were absolutely without snow, excepting those 
small isolated patches that are seen in ravines, or at the head of 
glaciers, which of course, do not affect such calculations as these. 
Jn the whole, therefore, I consider that the height of the snow- 
line on the more prominent points of the southern edge of the 
belt may be fairly reckoned at 16,000 feet at the very least. 
The point No. 4 was selected as being in a much more retir- 
ed position than the others. It is situated not far from the hea 
of the Pindur river. It was quite free from snow at 15,300 feet, 
and [ shall therefore consider 15,000 feet as the 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 
Which is 15,500 feet, on the 9th of August, 1822, and remained 
there until the 15th of the same month. He found the south- 
£ri slope of the range generally free from snow, and he states 
it is sometimes left without any whatever. On the top of 
the pass itself there was no snow; but on the northern slope of 
© 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 
Ss, it either rained or snowed for the greater part of three. 
The fresh snow that fell during this time did not lie below 
