510 Notes of a trip from Simla to the Spiti Valley. [No. 5, 



down into the Spiti valley from the great boundary chain to the 

 north; the highest peaks near Geumal attaining a height of 16,206 

 feet, the Spiti river but two miles from this point being about 11,600' 

 feet. 



8th, Kaja, 12,200 ft.* — Descend into the Spiti valley to Kaja, a 

 wretched village in an arid and stony plain, but with a fair extent of 

 cultivation along the river. Great numbers of pigeons are found in 

 the neighbourhood. On the open plateau above half way from Gen- 

 mal came on a large pitfall constructed in the centre of the path, in 

 which in winter animals are sometimes caught, chiefly " burrel" I 

 believe. It was a circular pit with upright sides, about 7 feet deep 

 and 15 in diameter. A projecting rim of slates inclining upwards 

 and inwards was carried round it, over which the earth from the pit 

 was spread and carefully levelled, so as to give the pit the appear- 

 ance of being a slight rise in the ground and prevent its being seen. 

 An animal coming along the path, in the centre of which this was, 

 could hardly fail to fall in ; and, once in, the projecting ledge of slates 

 rendered escape impossible. 



9th, Kiba, (Gyihbar apud Cunningham and Kibber of the map) 

 A village situated some two miles up from the mouth of the Pari- 

 langhi river, at about 13,890 feet. The road passes the village of Ki, 

 with its pretty monastery capping a very steep and commanding hil- 

 lock, and even more picturescpie than Danka. The ascent to Kiba 

 is in places difficult for quadrupeds, though the road must be bad 

 indeed which is impracticable to the hardy and semi-caprine ponies 

 of the valley. Kiba is prettily situated on a rocky ridge, beneath 

 which a grassy plot affords a convenient campiDg ground. Near the 

 village two piles of stones are passed, ornamented, after the usual 

 fashion, with several rough sticks with bits of rag waving from them, 

 and the horns of the "burrel," numbers of which are killed in winter 

 and their horns attached as trophies to piles of stones near the village- 

 The same piles are erected at the summit of all the passes, and wel- 

 come is the sight of these rags, fluttering from many a weather- 

 beaten stick, to the wearied traveller, as he slowly nears the summit and 

 catches sight of them. Nearly opposite the village of Ki (12500 ft.*) 

 was a large pile of stones covered with inscribed slabs, which are so 

 common in the vicinity of Spiti village. These piles of stones are 

 some 4 feet high by 6 broad on an average, and often a hundred feet 



