1040 Remarks on the Geology, fyc. * ["Dec, 



it is called Humla to the north of Zumila, and beyond the Aran, 

 according to Hamilton's map, appended to the History of the Goorka 

 war, the Harpala mountains. Klaproth and Abel Remusat have 

 collected from Chinese writings, the continuation of the chain in the 

 snow-clad peaks to the west of Young-Schan. These turn abruptly 

 to the north-west on the confines of Hon-Konang, advancing ulti- 

 mately, according to Von Humboldt (who seeks in description, 

 geography for the evidence of the elevation of mountain chains on longi- 

 tudinal fissures) to the sea, and terminating in the island of Formosa.* 

 We shall afterwards take an opportunity of inquiring into those views of 

 Humboldt, and point out the observations upon which they are 

 founded, being interesting not only to the geologist, but also to the 

 geographer. To make a geological survey of such a vast extent 

 of country, even if permission were granted to traverse many of those 

 tracts inhabited by barbarous, half civilized, and jealous tribes, is a 

 vast undertaking, and would be the labour of many years. The 

 researches of Humboldt, Ehrenberg, &c. have laid open to us a great 

 part of western Asia; of the countries between it and India proper, 

 we possess but little information, and that we owe to Burnes, Bell, 

 Sterling, &c. ; we have here therefore still a great desideratum. 



For many years the Himmalehs were considered the highest 

 mountains in the world, lately however it has been proved by an 

 observer of well known accuracy, Mr. Pentland, that they are sur- 

 passed by some of the peaks of the Andes ; of the passes, the lowest, the 

 Tungmug, is calculated to be 13,739 feet, and the highest, north-east 

 of Koonawur, is 20,000, which allowing the culminating points of the 

 chain to be 28,000, would give a relation of the main height of 

 minimum of crest to the culminating point of 1 : 1 : 6 £ ;+ Hum- 

 boldt many years ago reckoned it at 1 : 1:8. 



In regard to valleys, it has been stated, that the direction of the 

 principal valleys is in general at right angles, or perpendicular to 

 the central or high mountain chain ; whether this is the case in regard 

 to the principal valleys of the Himmalehs, is a question ; at present 

 we are inclined to believe that they are not, and that they are 

 parallel to the central chain, and thus forming those kind of valleys 

 properly denominated longitudinal or parallel. 



In groups of chains of mountains, as in the Himmalehs, it has 

 generally been shewn, that there is a central or higli mountain chain, 



* Journ. Geogaph. Sue. IV. p. 63. 

 f Joura. Geograph. Soc. p. 63. 



