3862.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 211 



glacier takes its rise from underneath a peak 28,287 feet high. 

 Captain Montgomerie was in a considerable state of alarm at one 

 time lest this noble peak should turn out to be in Turkistan. Captain 

 Austen has, however, removed all anxiety on that score, as one side 

 of the peak at any rate is in Her Majesty's dominions. 



Captain Montgomerie noticed that all glacier phenomena were to 

 be found on a gigantic scale in the Shigar valley. The crevasses in 

 the ice were of great breadth and of the most formidable description. 

 An attempt was made to measure the thickness of the ice by sound- 

 ing one of these yawning chasms, but a line of 160 feet in length 

 failed to reach the bottom of it. Observations made at the end of 

 the glaciers gave a thickness of 300 or 400 feet, but doubtless higher 

 up a still greater thickness of ice will be found. 



The surface ice was regularly drained by streamers with large lakes 

 of a-half to two miles in length, the whole water occasionally dis- 

 appearing down great holes or " moulins" in the ice with a loud 

 intermittent roaring noise. 



The glaciers being on such a gigantic scale, it, of course, took days 

 and days to explore one of them. In the smaller glaciers no par- 

 ticular precautions had to be taken, bat in the Shigar valley it was 

 absolutely necessary to tie all the men of the party together with 

 rope, giving about ten yards between each so as to save any one who 

 might slip into a crevasse. Implements for cutting ice were in con- 

 stant requisition and altogether it was a service of considerable 

 danger exploring the larger glaciers. 



The exposure involved in such explorations is evident from the 

 number of days for which it was necessary to encamp on the ice at a 

 great elevation with a limited supply of food and fuel which had to 

 be carried for the whole trip. The economy necessary in fuel was 

 more especially trying to Captain Austen and his party. 



Captain Austen made the detailed survey of the Shigar valley and 

 its vast glaciers. Lieutenant Melville did the same for the glaciers 

 of the Sooroo, Zanskar and Butuai, Mr. Byall those of the Saltoro 

 valley ; Mr. Todd those of the Brahma group. Captain Montgomerie 

 considers that to all of them (and more especially to Captain Austen) 

 the greatest praise is due for their untiring devotion to a most 

 arduous and trying task, and for the skill with which they have 

 accomplished it. 



