190 FLORA INDICA. 



rially less than that of the eastern^ for the passes over the 

 principal chains are quite as lofty, though none of the peaks 

 attain the extreme altitude of Kanchinjanga or Dhawalagiri. 

 The highest mountain west of Nipal is Nanda Devi in Ku- 

 maon, 25,750 feet, but there are many peaks above 20,000 

 in all parts of the range. The last great peak is Dayamar, 

 north-west of Kashmir, the height of which is 20,000 feet, 

 beyond which the chain dips rapidly to the Indus. 



The main chain of the western Himalaya, commencing near 

 the great peak of Kailas, north of the lake Mansarowara, runs 

 to the south of and parallel to the Indus, which it separates 

 first from the Satlej, then from the Chenab, and latterly from 

 the Jelam. To the eastward this chain is entirely Tibetan, 

 but north-west of Piti it separates Lahid and Kishtwar from 

 the Tibetan districts of Parang and Zanskar ; still further 

 west it separates Kashmir from Dras, and finally terminates 

 at the great bend of the river Indus. 



The primary ramifications of the main chain are three in 

 number. One (the Cis-Satlej Himalaya) is given off close to 

 the great lakes, and separates the Satlej basin from that of 

 the Ganges and its tributaries, terminating in the plains of 

 Hindostan near Nahan. A second (the Cis-Chenab Himalaya) 

 branches oflF from the main chain near the lake Chumoreri in 

 Tibet, and separates the basin of the Chenab from those of 

 the Beas and Ravi, terminating in the plain of the Panjab a 

 little east of Jamu. The third principal branch of the chain 

 separates the Chenab from the Jelam. 



Our knowledge of the Western Himalaya is so much more 

 definite than that which we possess regarding Nipal and the 

 eastern provinces, that it is necessary to adopt a more minute 

 subdivision. The following districts will be frequently referred 

 to, and described in detail at a future page : — 



1. Kumaon. 



2. Garhwal. 



3. Simla; including Sii'mur and Basehir and a number of 

 petty states, extending from the Jumna to the Satlej. 



