1873.] DREW — OTTER-INDUS BASIN. 471 



which were to be accounted for by the presence of glaciers below 

 where glaciers now exist, at the time of the formation of the deposits. 



Discussion. 



Mr. Sowerbt confirmed the observations of the author, and said 

 that the phenomena described by him are not confined to the valley 

 of the Indus, but that they occur in other parts of India. 



Mr. Blanford remarked that the peculiarity of the region of 

 High Asia is the enormous amount of alluvial deposits — enormous 

 both as regards their thickness and the area they occupy. This 

 peculiarity is rendered the more striking as the deposits are not 

 concealed by vegetation. He remarked upon the absence of stra- 

 tification in the fan-shaped and other deposits and at the mouths of 

 streams. He expressed himself not quite satisfied that glaciers 

 were the cause of the contorted beds referred to by Mr. Drew. The 

 accumulation of great masses of deposits 700-800 feet thick he 

 thought might be due to the damming up of the streams by land- 

 slips ; and he stated that he had seen accumulations thus formed 

 extending to 200 feet in thickness. 



Mr. Clieton "Ward stated that he had frequently found it difficult 

 to distinguish the deposits at the mouths of streams from true allu- 

 vial beds. 



Prof. Ramsay remarked that some of the phenomena described by 

 Mr. Drew were to be observed elsewhere than in the district where 

 his observations had been made, and referred to examples both in 

 this country and on the continent of North America. 



Mr. Drew briefly replied. 



