Appendix E. SLOPE OF RIVER BEDS. COMPARISON WITH NORWAY. 399 



breadth of the most elevated portion of the chain. If we select the 

 Teesta as an example, and measure its fall at three points of its course, 

 we shall find the results very different. From its principal source at 

 Lake Cholamoo, it descends from 17,000 to 15,000 feet, with a fall of 

 60 feet to the mile ; from 15,000 to 12,000 feet, the fall is 140 feet to 

 the mile ; in the third part of its course it descends from 12,000 to 

 5,000 feet, with a fall of 160 feet to the mile ; and in the lower part 

 the descent is from 5,000 feet to the plains of India at 300 feet, 

 giving a fall of 50 feet to the mile. There is, however, no marked 

 limit to these divisions ; its valley gradually contracts, and its course 

 gradually becomes more rapid. It is worthy of notice that the fall 

 is at its maximum through that part of its valley of which the flanks 

 are the most loaded with snow ; where the old moraines are very 

 conspicuous, and where the present accumulations from landslips, 

 &c, are the most extensive.* 



With reference to Kinchinjiuiga, these facts are of importance, as 

 showing that mere elevation is in physical geography of secondary 

 importance. That lofty mountain rises from a spur of the great 

 range of Donkia, and is quite removed from the watershed or axis of 

 the Himalaya, the rivers which drain its northern and southern flanks 

 alike flowing to the Granges. Were the Himalaya to be depressed 

 18,000 feet, Kubra, Junnoo, Pundim, &c, would form a small cluster 

 of rocky islands 1,000 to 7,000 feet high, grouped near Kinchinjunga, 

 itself a cape 10,000 feet high, which would be connected by a low, 

 narrow neck, with an extensive and mountainous tract of land to its 

 north-east ; the latter being represented by Donkia. To the north 

 of Kinchin a deep bay or inlet would occupy the present valley of 

 the Arun, and would be bounded on the north by the axis of the 

 Himalaya, which would form a continuous tract of land beyond it. 

 Since writing the above, I have seen Professor J. Forbes's beautiful 

 work on the glaciers of Norway : it fully justifies a comparison of 

 the Himalaya to Norway, which has long been a familiar subject of 



* It is not my intention to discuss here the geological bearings of this curious 

 question ; but I may state that as the humidity of the climate of the middle 

 region of the river-course tends to increase the fall in a given space, so I 

 believe the di-yness of the climate of the loftier country has the opposite effect, 

 by preserving those accumulations which have raised the floors of the valleys 

 and rendered them level. 



