FOSSIL KIIINOCEROS OF TIBET. 183 



The proof is embarrassed with immense difficulties in all 

 mountainous tracts at a distance from the sea, which alone 

 affords a certain standard for comparison ; and this difficulty- 

 affects the central portion of the Himalayahs. But we shall 

 endeavour to show that there are grounds sufficient for en- 

 tertaining the presumption at least, that the Himalayalis 

 are now undergoing a process of upheavements. 



In Mr. Traill's excellent report on the Bhoteah Mehals, or 

 region of the Tibet passes, occurs the following passage, 

 which is so important to the point that it is given at full 

 length. 



' The paths to the passes ' (the Mana, Niti, Juwar, Darma, 

 and Beeans passes) ' continue along the upper part of the 

 rivers above mentioned, till near the crest of the ridge, which 

 is crossed in parts offering least difficulty in the ascent, and 

 it is here only that snow is not met with during the season of 

 intercourse. Roads of communication through the Himalayahs 

 unite the passes from East to West, but they are passable 

 during a few days only in each year, and are considered at 

 all tiraes dangerous by the Blioteahs themselves. Roads of 

 this description formerly used are now impracticable, owing to 

 the increase of snow. The interior of the Himalayah, except at 

 the passes and paths in question, is inaccessible, and appears 



TO BE DAILY BECOMING MOKE SO FROM THE GRADUAL EXTEN- 

 SION OP THE ZONE OP PERPETUAL SNOW. The Bhoteahs bear 

 universal testimony to the fact of such extension, and point otd 

 ridges now never free from snoiv, which, within the memory of 

 man, ivere clothed with forest and afforded periodical pastures 

 for sheep ; they even state that the avalanches detached from, 

 the lofty pealcs occasionally present pieces of wood frozen in their 

 centre.' 



Now these statements are of much importance, and their 

 value is enhanced by the circumstance of their coming spon- 

 taneously from an unprejudiced inqiiirer. Mr. Traill attempts 

 no explanation ; he simply records the proofs and the universal 

 belief that the zone of perpetual snow is descending lower. 

 It is true that, before any conckisions could be safely drawn 

 from them, the asserted facts will require to be verified and 

 the observations extended, but they are at present sufficiently 

 plausible to justify some speculations on the stibject, 



The circumstance of most weight is the assertion that pieces 

 of wood are found frozen in the centre of the avalanches de- 

 tached from the lofty peaks. Now it is very evident that 

 this coiild only happen by a descent of the perpetual snow 

 zone upon tracts where forests once grew, for it is difficult, if 

 not impossible, to imagine how pieces of timber could at such 

 enormous elevations be transported from below, so as to be 



