Mr. CoLEBROOKE 071 the Valley of the Sutluj River. 131 



I have enumerated the specimens forwarded by Lieut. Gerard at some 

 lengthy and connected with them the information suppHed by his letters and 

 memoranda communicated to me^ for the sake of authenticating the geological 

 facts which are ascertained in this way, by means of researches conducted 

 without previous knowledge of the science. I need hardly add, that the primi- 

 tive character of these lofty mountains, at every spot visited, is precisely what 

 was to be expected. 



It is worthy of notice, that throughout the tract explored, granite, gneiss, 

 mica-slate, quartz rock, and limestone, appear every where alternating with 

 each other ; and that limestone, as well as granite, was picked up at the 

 greatest elevation which was attained. 



Though the topic be unconnected with the immediate subject of this paper, 

 I cannot quit Lieut. Gerard's letters and memoranda without quoting from 

 them the very surprising circumstance, that seeds of a species of campanula 

 were gathered by him at the elevation of 16,800 feet above the level of the sea ; 

 on a spot where the temperature was 27" of Fahrenheit's thermometer at noon 

 in the middle of October. The latitude wa-j nearly 32° north. Shrubs were 

 found by him in a vegetating state still higher. 



