464 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [May 28, 



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At Kargil there is an unusual -widening- out of low ground among 

 the higher mountains. This must be connected with the occurrence 

 of a great thickness of soft clay and sandstone beds of Tertiary age 

 among the metamorphic and granitic rocks. Two streams, from the 

 south-east and south-west, meet at Kargil, and flow to the Indus. 

 The space included between the two, for some four miles above the 

 junction, is covered by a great deposit of alluvial gravel. From the 

 level of the meeting of the two streams (which is near 9000 feet 

 above the sea) one rises in succession on to four different terraces, 

 the last being 600 feet above the part of the stream opposite to 

 it. This whole thickness, being an alluvium of more or less 

 rounded stuff, is seen by the river-bank. The terraces are of 

 different widths ; the higher ones make plains several square miles 

 in extent. 



As far as this part of the deposit is concerned I have no difficulty 

 in counting it an ordinary old alluvium of the two streams. One 

 is confirmed in this by observing that there is a general slope of the 

 terraces towards Kargil, and that the old river-cliffs which bound 

 them are more or less parallel to the general run of one of the 

 streams, the one that flows from Suru. Towards Paskim, however, 

 are certain deposits at a higher relative level still, which, perhaps, 

 are not thus to be accounted for. I had not an opportunity of 

 following them out, and must leave them with this notice in the 

 hope that some other traveller will turn his attention to them. 



At Dras, which is high up another of the tributary streams, there 

 is another expanse of alluvium of some importance. While on the 

 south side of the stream that flows by that place the mountains 

 continue lofty and steep, to the north the higher mountains have 

 retreated, and low irregular spurs that come from them end off so as 

 to leave a flat space about two miles wide and three long. This is 

 for the most part covered with alluvium in terraces of two or three 

 different levels. The uppermost is about 120 feet above the stream. 

 It occupies a good space in the northern part of the valley, and is 

 repeated on the right bank as well. The material is a mixed one of 

 small pebbles, stones of moderate size, and larger masses. The 

 second terrace is but 40 feet above the stream ; and out of it here 

 and there rocks protrude. Again, at one part there is a third 

 terrace, occupying but a small space, 25 feet above the water. The 

 gravel at some parts extends down to the level of the stream ; at 

 others this flows in a rocky channel. I annex a section (fig. 11) 

 across the valley from north to south, to show the way in which the 

 alluvium has lapped round the projecting rocks, and the stream, 

 after traversing at different times all parts in width of the valley, at 

 last has cut a channel for itself in the rock. 



"We now come to one of the most remarkable and interesting 

 tracts of all this country — the tableland of Deosai. There is a 

 tributary of the Dras river, called the Shigar*. If one were to 

 follow up that, one would be led by a gradual rise, until at a level of 

 over 12,000 feet a large open plateau would be reached ; this is 



* Not to be confounded with the Shigar river that joins the Indus at Skardii. 



