198 



Geological Report on the Valley of the Spiti, and of the Route from 

 Kotghur. By Capt, Hutton, Z^th N. I. 



[The paper now published, completes a series of notes of a journey to 

 the Spiti Valley, undertaken on account of the Asiatic Society, by Capt. 

 Hutton, 37th Regt. N. I. It was with those which have already appeared 

 placed at the disposal of the Editor of this Journal by the Committee of 

 Papers. The results of the author's geological observations have induced 

 the adoption of theories, upon which the Editor is only competent to 

 remark in so far as the identification of the opinions of a publisher is 

 concerned with those of any writer, to whom he is enabled to offer a 

 medium of communicating his views to the public. 



In the belief that hardly any novel theory could be broached, which 

 would be unproductive of good results, (if not by its intrinsic merits, at any 

 rate by the consequence of the discussion it might excite,) the Editor has 

 great pleasure in giving publicity to this paper, for the views contained in 

 which the author is alone answerable.] Qj 



The valley of the Sutledge is that portion of the western Himalya which, 

 as its name implies, forms the tract of country through which the river 

 Sutledge flows. 



The term valley is however scarcely applicable to it, since it is strictly 

 speaking nothing more than a deep and rugged mountain glen, of more than 

 ordinary sternness and magnificence, often affording from the abrupt rise 

 of its rocky sides, a mere channel for the roaring torrent which winds its 

 irresistible and headlong course along its sheltered bed. 



On either side rise high and snow-clad peaks, forming along the river's 

 course two mighty walls, whose dark and furrowed sides proclaim the 

 constant warfare which is waged by frost and heat alternately. 



Villages are numerous along the river's course, sometimes placed near 

 the water's level, at others raised high above it on the mountain's side, 

 surrounded by their cultivation cut in steppes, and sheltered by the stern 

 and frowning cliffs which raise their hoary summit far above it. 



In the lower part of the valley, commencing from Rampore downwards, 

 to below Kotgurh, vast beds of rolled and water-worn stones are seen ac- 

 cumulated on the river's banks, and rising high above the water's present 

 level. Such deposits evidently owe their origin to the eddies or back wa- 

 ters of some far mightier stream than that exhibited by the Sutledge in the 

 present day, even at its greatest height, and must undoubtedly have been 

 formed by the rush of water attendant on the outburst of some enormous 

 lake or lakes in the higher portions of the hills. 



