168 TIBET. Chap. XXIV. 



divides the Lhassan or " U ' from the " Tsang ' (or 

 Jigatzi) province of Tibet; it appeared fully 100 miles off, 

 and was probably much more ; it bore from N. 57° E. to 

 N. 70° E., and though so lofty as to be heavily snowed 

 throughout, was much below the horizon-line of Bhomtso ; 

 it is crossed on the route from Jigatzi, and from Sikkim 

 to Lhassa,* and is considered very lofty, from affecting 

 the breathing. About twenty miles to the north-east are 

 some curious red conical mountains, said to be on the west 

 side of the Ramchoo lakes ; they were unsnowed, and bore 

 N. 45° 30' E. and N. 60° 30' E. A sparingly-snowed group 

 bore N. 26° 30' E., and another N. 79° E., the latter 

 being probably that mentioned by Turner as seen by him 

 from near Giantchi. 



But the mountains which appeared both the highest and 

 the most distant on the northern landscape, were those I 

 described when at Donkia, as being north of Nepal and 

 beyond the Arun river, and the culminant peak of which 

 bore N. 55° W. Both Dr. Campbell and I made repeated 

 estimates of its height and distance by the eye ; comparing 

 its size and snow -level with those of the mountains near us; 

 and assuming 4000 to 5000 feet as the minimum height 

 of its snowy cap ; this would give it an elevation of 23,000 

 to 25,000 feet. An excellent telescope brought out no 

 features on its flanks not visible to the naked eye, and by 

 the most careful levellings with the theodolite, it was 

 depressed more than 0° 7' below the horizon of Bhomtso, 

 whence the distance must be above 100 miles. 



The transparency of the pale-blue atmosphere of these 



* Lhassa, which lies north-east, may be reached in ten days from this, with 

 relays of ponies ; many mountains are crossed, where the breath is affected, and 

 few villages are passed after leaving Giantchi, the "Jhansi jeung" of Turner's 

 narrative. See Campbell's " Routes from Dorjiling to Lhassa." (" Bengal As. 

 Soc. Journal.") 



