86 Trip to the Bulcha mid Oonta Dhoora Passes. fNo 134. 



On the Pass the ther. when taken from its case was 45°. It rose 

 in the sun to 61°, and boiled at 182°, or a little under, snow being used 

 instead of water. The elevation by Barron's rule would be 18,540 

 feet ; but this must be greatly in excess. There are five small ridges 

 of stone in the crest, which look like pillars from below. It is believed 

 that a ghost kills any one who sleeps near them ; but more probably 

 cold is the agent. There was a bitter cold wind blowing, and it is 

 described as awful towards the end of the rains. Dhunsing told me, 

 that in September twenty-five years, ago, he lost 120 sheep swept over 

 the North face of the Pass by the wind. His servants escaped to 

 Milum with great difficulty ; and the borax with which the sheep had 

 been laden, was recovered next season. The south face and crest of 

 the Pass consist of a black soil, apparently the detritus of a black slate, 

 which latter is visible here and there below the soil. I was much dis- 

 appointed with the crest of the Pass. The view South is very limited. 

 Nundi Devi not visible, North-East and North a few hills are visible, 

 North-west is a sea of hills moderately covered with snow, and hard- 

 ly any of them appearing of great elevation. Indeed, were it not for 

 the Louka river, (a small stream,) rising at the foot of the North 

 slope, and flowing due North, I should have been sceptical as to stand- 

 ing on the crest of one of the few Passes into Tibet, and the highest 

 one too. North-east are three bare hills, the first called Gentee, with 

 behind it, not visible, two other hills, which have to be passed on the 

 direct route to Chirchan. I know not what is the name of the 

 centre hill, the third is Chingoor. North, in the distance, is the Balcha 

 ridge, the last range between Hindoostan and Tibet, with intermediately 

 a high gorge above (south of) Chingoor, connecting the hills East and 

 West. From North to nearly West, there is a decent assemblage 

 of hills well covered with snow, (those N. E. and N. having very 

 little). The highest of these is a conical peak above (North of) 

 Gertee, where copper* is said to be found. This peak bears about due 

 N. W. from the crest of the Pass. Girtee is on the road from Mularee 

 below the Neetee Pass, but to reach either Gertee, Mularee or Neetee 



eggs from the nest of one of these birds, and wanted me to eat them. 1 declined this, 

 and he enjoyed them for his own dinner, cooked up somehow with ghee. The eggs 

 were nearly as large as turkey's eggs, white, with lightish-brown spots all over. 

 * There are lead mines at Ghentee. — J. H. B. 



