1 168 Visit to Melum and the Oonta [No. 132. 



of water appears greater ; the level ground on which Milum stands, 

 seems to be made up from the crumbled fragments of the neighbour- 

 ing mountains; as the steep bank of about 150 feet, down which we 

 descended to the Goonka, is composed of a large quantity of earth, 

 in which are imbedded both rounded and irregular stones. 



Ascended the river on its left bank, road passable, but not very 

 good, the footing in some places very bad ; no grass, nothing but 

 loose earth and small masses of rock. Clay slate and grey silicious 

 rock* in masses and fragments ; the general appearance of the mountains 

 extremely barren, precipitous, and shattered, the dip not procurable. 

 The river in three or four places on either side is bounded by masses 

 of earth and stones, (which are no doubt the debris of the overhanging 

 mountains,) which rise in numerous places in sharp peaks, and are, 

 in miniature, the resemblance of some of the more lofty points. 

 Lying in the bed and sides of the river, are some huge masses of 

 breccia or conglomerate. f The rock has not that general metallic 

 appearance it assumed the two preceding marches, but I picked 

 up some specimens with pyrites, some crystals (apparently dodecahe- 

 drons.) At about two miles from Milum, saw a few stunted birch trees. 



At 2h. 28m. p. m. arrived at our ground of encampment at the 



mouth of a stream which runs nearly due East, called the ? 



The general direction of the Goonka is from N. E., but inclining 

 in its windings more from the North than from the East ; from 

 this however it comes from a due North direction for some dis- 

 tance. There are hear this a few withered looking birch trees, and on 

 the opposite side some dwarf juniper ; but the general look of the 

 country is extremely bleak and barren. The Bhoteeas who accom- 

 pany us, are sleeping in the open air (with fires,) having brought 

 no tent with them, and the cave being occupied by the few ser- 

 vants we have brought with us. The thermometer at sunset was 47*, 



* A sandstone.— J. H. B. 



f During a fall of snow or a thaw, the descent of stones is almost constant from the 

 earthy precipices over head, and the whole of the Goonka glen at such times is a very 

 dangerous route. Rain is never violent here, but whenever any falls, down come 

 avalanches of stones. Some of the latter (as in Manson's sketch) are suspended on (he 

 top of the ravine precipices on little pointed peaks, and their appearance on an 

 avalanche day is any thing but pleasant to the traveller underneath. See Sketch 

 No. 4.— J. H. B. 



