212 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [No. 2, 



A vast field for exploration having been thus opened out by the 

 Kashmir series, Captain Montgomerie hoped that the Journal of 

 the Society would hereafter he filled with a mass of interesting detail 

 regarding these glaciers. Should any Alpine explorers from England 

 be tempted to visit this interesting field of research, Captain Montgo- 

 merie promises them glaciers and mountains worthy of their exer- 

 tions, and he added that the officers of the Trigonometrical Survey 

 would be prepared to supply every assistance in the way of data as a 

 basis for more minute inquiries. 



He reiterated that, as compared with the Shigar glaciers, those of 

 the Alps may be considered of the second order, the best known one 

 — the Mer De Glace — being about 7 miles in length and the largest, 

 the Aletsch glacier being a little over 15 miles in length, whilst 

 the larger ones surveyed by the Kashmir Series on the Braldo, &c. } 

 varied between 15 and 36 miles in length. 



Captain Montgomerie concluded by saying that he hoped hereafter, 

 when next summer's researches were finished, to draw up a more 

 complete account of these magnificent glaciers. Meantime he trust- 

 ed that the rough notes which he had hurriedly put together w r ould 

 give a general idea of their vast extent and of the importance of their 

 addition to our knowledge of the physical geography of the globe. 



Captain Montgomerie subsequently spoke as to the advisability of 

 employing native agency for the purpose of adding to our knowledge 

 of Central Asia and other countries. He thought that natives of 

 the north of India might be trained to take latitude observations and 

 to make rough route surveys. The work of such natives would be 

 tested in ground already explored by Europeans, and numerous other 

 precautions might be taken to insure accuracy. Explorations in 

 Central Asia had hitherto been most dangerous to Europeans, but 

 natives of Hindostan went there constantly and returned in safety. 

 Eor instance, the Commissioner of Peshawur had lately sent the 

 Moola Abdul Mujeed from Peshawur via Cabul, Kundooz, Badakshan, 

 and across the steppe of Pamir down to Kokan with a letter and 

 presents from His Excellency the Governor-General to the Khan. 

 The Moola returned in safety, and beyond the physical difficulties, 

 such as crossing the plains of Pamir then covered with snow, he had 

 no interruption, and if he had been able he could have taken latitude 

 observations and made a rough route survey without any danger. 



