1841.] Capt. HuttoiCs Geological Report. 199 



These deposits extend in many places along both banks of the river, and 

 appear to have been formerly one solid mass of debris, which as the wa- 

 ters gradually disappeared, have become divided by the current of the 

 stream. 



These are for the most part situated at those places where the Sutledge 

 takes a rapid turn, and have been evidently thrown up within the elbow by 

 the eddies, or back waters. 



On the surface of these broad and flat alluvial deposits, now flourishes 

 an abundant cultivation, consisting of barley, wheat, rice, tobacco, pop- 

 pies, &c. which being situated high above the river's level, are irrigated 

 by the minor streams, which are furnished from the heights above them. 



Higher up the river's course the valley narrows, and forming in many 

 parts a mural cliff on either bank, gives a mere passage to the foaming 

 stream, which rushes with a hoarse and deafening roar over the boulders 

 which obstruct its progress, and dash its waters in muddy waves on 

 high. Some hundred feet above the stream the hills are clothed with 

 dense and stately woods of oaks and various sorts of pines, among 

 which the " Ree," producing the edible seed called by the people " Neoza," 

 is in great abundance. Above the belt of wood, are seen to rise 

 huge rocky spires, along the rugged line of mountains, bare of all 

 vegetation, and crowned by everlasting snows. From these snow-clad 

 heights are furnished numerous streams, which rushing downwards in 

 a sheet of foam, furrow the mountains sides with minor glens, and join 

 the Sutledge as it rolls along below. Now and then the forests cease, 

 and wide grassy tracts succeed, affording pasture to multitudes of goats 

 and sheep; while here and there the whole hill side has slipped away, 

 and left a mural height of precipitous and crumbling rocks, which are 

 annually precipitated into the depths below by the expansive powers of 

 the frost and snow. 



The general features presented by the Geology of these hills, may be 

 briefly and summarily comprised in the following observations : — 



The main or central range of the Himalya or true snowy mountains, 



runs in a general direction from East-South-East to West-North- West, 



sending off branches or spurs in every direction, intersected or divided 



everywhere by deep and precipitous valleys, whose narrow bed or bottom 



almost invariably serves as the channel of some mountain torrent or 



rivulet, whose waters are supplied from the snowy heights above. Where 



he sides of these valleys are of sufficient elevation to retain the snow 



hroughout the year, these rivulets receive a neverfailing supply of 



vater ; but, on the other hand, if the enclosing walls are of moderate 



>r medium elevation, the vallies are often dry for several months together. 



2 B 



