1844.] and on Gerard's Account of Kunawar, 241 



The highest Passes could be traversed in the depth of winter in spite 

 of cold, were it not for the violent winds and uncertainty of the 

 weather. The drifting snow conceals the track or road, and over- 

 whelms the bewildered traveller, already benumbed by the piercing 

 wind. If, however, a calm day be chosen, and a number of cattle 

 be driven before to tread down the soft snow, any Pass may be crossed 

 with comparative safety. 



After the falls of snow and the strong winds cease, that is in March, 

 April, and May, the surface of the snow on the hills becomes harden- 

 ed, and admits of travelling with ease. 



No people go from Kunawar to Leh in January and February, 

 who can avoid doing so. The Kunawarees set out on their journies in 

 April and May, and return in August, September and October ; some 

 remain at Leh over the winter. Travellers in the winter should 

 always be accompanied by villagers of correct local knowledge, as 

 otherwise, a person may attempt to cross a deep ravine or gully, 

 and become lost in the deep soft snow. 



The Sutlej, fyc. arrested by frost. — In winter, most of the streams 

 that join it are arrested by frost, and the Sutlej itself is even frozen 

 for 200 miles during two months at least. — Gerard, p. 27- Andthe 

 people proceeding between these places, (Buseherand Chuprung,) in the 

 cold season, travel upon the Sutlej, which is entirely frozen for two 

 months at least. — Ditto, p. 146. 



The surface of every small stream is frozen over during the winter, 

 or rather frozen spray forms an irregular archway, beneath which 

 there is a stream. The streams are never arrested so far as I have 

 observed, nor is it probable they should be. The surface of the Sutlej 

 is, I am sure, never continuously frozen ; its edges are, and form the 

 road alluded to by Gerard ; and its whole breadth is frozen here and 

 there where the water is comparatively still. The Sutlej is either too 

 rapid to admit of surface ice, or too broad to allow the spray to form 

 an arch over its stream. 



Rapidity of Rivers, Theory of — The rapidity of the large rivers, 

 such as the Sutlej and the Para, cannot be expected to increase 

 like that of the Teedong and Taglakhar, since the country through 

 which they flow is not of so rugged a nature. — Gerard, p. 97, 

 Note. 



