1842.] of the Himmalay a Mountains. xxix 



48. We have seen that the line of greatest elevation intersects in- 

 stead of bounding the river districts (Art 30). On each side of this line 

 to the north as well as to the south the peaks diminish in elevation, yet 

 not equally. To the southward the decrease is more rapid, and is accom- 

 panied by an anomaly which is sufficiently striking. The diminution 

 of elevation, which is pretty regular till near the boundary of the 

 plains and mountain land, is there suddenly interrupted. The peaks 

 shoot up considerably above the mean elevation of those immediately 

 north of them, and as suddenly sink into the plains ; so, that if we 

 divide the country, south of the line of greatest elevation, into five 

 parallel zones, the fifth will be as high as the third, while the fourth 

 will be found considerably lower than either. 



49. Some of the most remarkable instances of this fact are the 

 following: The Ghagur, which rises above Bhumowree, has one of 

 the lowest of its passes, in a road distance of fifteen miles, elevated 

 7,121 feet above the sea. Another instance may be seen in the high 

 range south of Sreenugger. A third in the Soorkunda range, as con- 

 necting that peak with Bhudraj. The latter overlooks the Doon, 

 the former is but fifteen miles from Dhera, situated in the centre nearly 

 of the valley, yet their altitudes are respectively 7,510 and 9,271 above 

 the sea. The Jamoo Peak is another example. The Bhoora Peak a 

 still more remarkable one. The latter elevated 6,439 feet above the 

 sea, appears actually to overhang the lower hills which form the transition 

 from its foot to the plain country. Many more instances might be adduced, 

 were it necessary to multiply the examples. If a surface be supposed, 

 such as to represent everywhere the mean elevation, that surface will not 

 be inclined regularly plane, but will have a considerable curvature. 



50. Another curious feature in the physical structure of this moun- 

 tain tract is the situation of the high peak called the Choor. Its sum- 

 mit is elevated 12,149 feet above the sea, and if it be made the centre 

 of a circle of sixty miles diameter, the circumference will on one side 

 just fall on the common boundary of plain and mountain land, while 

 within this circle, no point will be found within 15,00 feet of this 

 height, and even those mountains which approach this limit, are, strictly 

 speaking, part of the chain of which the Choor is the highest peak. 

 From whatever quarter it be approached, it will be seen from very great 

 distances standing up above the surrounding ridges like a huge beacon, 



