186 PHASIANUS DECOLLATUS 
been formed by the continued incrustation of the 
minerals contained in the water, the largest being about 
fifteen feet high, and the other two slightly less. The 
water issuing from them is very hot, and has a very 
offensive odour, resembling decaying sea-weed. The 
three springs unite and form a stream, which runs 
through the valley, a black slime accumulating on its 
edges in which green aquatic plants grow even when 
the water is still quite warm. The king has a wooden 
bath built round with stones here, and it is filled by 
means of a bamboo pipe leading to the top of one of 
the cones. 
Starting early the next morning (May 16) the ascent 
became more steep, and the stunted vegetation and 
scarcity of even pines soon showed, if there were 
no other indications, that a high elevation was being 
reached. Small grassy plateaux, however, were frequent, 
and the Tibetan pheasant (Phasianus decollatus) appeared 
to be very common. I shot several, and noticed also 
that a species of [thaginis was very common, as they 
were constantly running across the path. They are, 
however, of not much use for food, being very tough 
and having an unpleasantly strong flavour. Just before 
reaching the summit of the pass I noticed a very beau- 
tiful dwarf blue iris, and a little higher up I found 
patches of snow. It was bitterly cold, and on reaching 
