December 3, 1908] 



NA TURE 



tide research towards the elucidation of many pro- 

 blems which beset the study of high altitudes. 



The combination of authorship is sufficient indica- 

 tion of the recognition of the close intimacy which 

 exists between geography and geology. The three 

 parts now issued are generally geographical in their 

 purpose ; a fourth which is to follow is more strictly 

 geological. 



Part i. deals with the subject of Asiatic peaks, and 

 is an admirable summary of existing knowledge about 

 them. We have a most interesting series of notes 

 on their altitude, constitution, names, distribution, 

 and geology. " The determination of their position 

 and heights is the first step on the ladder of geo- 

 graphical knowledge," says Col. Burrard, and the 

 fundamental part which they play in the making of 

 maps and in the evolution of a scientific conception 

 of the configuration of mountain systems is well 

 illustrated. In spite of the increase of local knowledge 

 which must be the result of closer and more intimate 

 exploration, every geographer will agree with Col. 

 Burrard's appeal for the retention of well-known 

 names with no unnecessary and pedantic changes of 

 spelling, or constant cor- 

 rection of altitudes, in 

 our maps. .'Vs regards 

 the altitudes, however, 

 it might be well to con- 

 sider whether the figures 

 finally adopted might 

 not be reduced to round 

 numbers. All the diffi- 

 culties attending the de- 

 termination of great 

 altitudes are touched 

 upon by Col. Burrard, 

 and when we consider 

 the errors which may 

 arise from a wrong es- 

 timation of corrections 

 due to refraction ; from 

 local deflection of the 

 level ; from the varying 

 depths of snow over- 

 lying the peak ; or even 

 from that elusive quan- 

 tity, mean sea-level ; we 

 may fairly ask whether 

 we are justified in 

 crystallising the height 

 of Mount Everest, for 



instance, at 29,003 feet instead of rendering it in terms 

 {so much easier to remember) of 29,000. K, at 28,250 

 is satisfactory, but Kinchinjunga at 28,146 would 

 suiely be better at 28,150. .V strict adherence to the 

 mean value deduced from all observ-ations taken is no 

 doubt necessary as an official record, but its introduc- 

 tion into the ordinary map does certainly tend towards 

 a fals^ impression of minute accuracy. 



Part ii. deals with mountain ranges and their con- 

 formation, and in this part we think that the geo- 

 graphical element has been too much subordinated to 

 geology. Col. Burrard's theories of the original form- 

 ation of the gigantic uplands and hills of Asia is 

 beyond criticism. They have long been accepted as 

 the fundamental explanation of mountain structure, 

 and we welcome with thankfulness a plain and simple 

 statement of those general principles which govern 

 the relationship between water partings and ranges ; 

 by which mountain folds have been arranged in 

 orderly lines, determining tlie main features of any 

 great system — only to be cut to pieces and re-shaped 

 into what appears to be haphazard irregularity by 

 ■denudation and river action. But the geographer can 



NO. 2040, VOL. 79] 



hardly treat these latter phases of mountain construc- 

 tion with such scant respect as the geologist. Like 

 the map-maker, who first defines all his river courses 

 and then fills in the mountains between, he maintains 

 that it is the river and valley which is of paramount 

 economic importance ; and if two rivers between them 

 carve out a range in a direction absolutely transverse 

 to the original tectonic folds, that such a range for 

 all practical purposes may be vastly more important 

 than the battered, undermined, and disintegrated 

 granite core which formed the axis of the primeval 

 fold, but which is now only to be recognised by the 

 magnificence of its detached (but duly aligned) groups 

 of gigantic peaks. To put it shortly, Col. Burrard 

 maintains that inasmuch as the groups of highest 

 peaks which follow an orderly curve through the 

 length of the Himalaya indicate the main range of 

 the system, this fact should be emphasised in topo- 

 graphical maps rather than main water partings or 

 river systems. Scientifically, doubtless, this may be 

 correct, but the travelling public for whom maps are 

 made will, we fear, still fail to see with the eye of 

 scientific faith, and will continue to believe the out- 



ndly at the Brahmaputra. 



ward and visible evidence that these peaks are on 

 spurs emanating from a main water-parting. 



There is also great difficulty in determining the 

 exact position of some of these great structural folds. 

 Col. Burrard has apparently encountered this diffi- 

 culty, for the letterpress at p. 123, part iii. (dealing 

 with river systems), hardly tallies with Fig. 2 of 

 chart xxi. in part ii. .Assuming that Col. Burrard 

 includes the Ghorband drainage with that of the 

 Panjshir in the former (which we must do), the 

 southern ridge, or fold, of the Hindu Kush trough 

 gets mixed up with the continuation of the " Kailas " 

 fold as depicted in the latter. Nor can we accept 

 the statement as altogether proven that the Hari Rud 

 valley represents a primeval tectonic trough and not 

 the result of subsequent erosion. Col. Talbot (who 

 surveyed the valley) believed it to be the latter, and 

 there i: certainly no trace of a crystalline core to the 

 ranges north and south of the Hari Rud. It is not 

 altogether out of place to note that the assumption 

 of a double range for the Hindu Kush may lead to 

 serious political complications. If this double range 

 exists, what becomes of our boundary (at present 



