1837.] Some account of the valley of Kashmir. 767 



dered by the natives. A curious belief is current with them that no 

 poisonous snake exists within view of its summit. 



Nangd Parbat or Diarmal as the Tibetans call it, is one of the 

 noblest peaks I ever saw. It will be found to be 18,000 or 19,000 

 feet in my humble judgment. It rises near Assor or Astor, about half 

 way and on the left of the path to Little Tibet, and is usually con- 

 cealed in the clouds when the other mountains are uncovered. 



There are two other peaks of vast height named Nanou and Kanou 

 between Kashmir and Laddk, near the village of Marchwerwand. Baron 

 Hugel saw them from the Pir Punjal : I was not so fortunate in my 

 weather. 



There are a dozen passes which are called highways, that are often 

 used : and 500 places by which an active mountaineer could pass in 

 and out of the valley. 



The Pir Punjal pass and others on the south side are about 12,500 

 feet high. Poonah, which is the only one, excepting that of the 

 valley of the Jelum to Baramula, that is open all the year for horse 

 and foot, is only 8,700 feet by the boiling point. 



Of the two passes to the north, that by Derans to Laddk on the 

 right and Islcardo on the left is open all the year for foot. The way 

 to Iskardo by Deosea or Deoseh is said not yet to be practicable for 

 horses. I am waiting here for a day or two in consequence. 



The source of the Jelum is 10 miles or more beyond Veraag. I 

 have visited it ; my thermometer gave me to the best of my recollection 

 between 9 and 10,000 feet. It is very singular that its source should 

 not be adorned with a single Hindu monument when there is hardly 

 a large spring without one. The Jelum above Islamabad is called the 

 Sandren -, thence to Baramula it is known only by the name of the Vet 

 or Wet, or Beyah ; thence in the pass it retains with the Hindus its 

 Sanskrit name the Vetasta : the natives simply call it Deriah ** the ri- 

 ver." It winds 36 times in its course between Islamabad and Baramula 

 and forms 1 6 islands. In Kashmir it is one of the most tranquil rivers 

 I ever saw ; its rush in the spring through some parts of the Bara- 

 mula pass is terrific. It is a miniature of the rapids above Niagara. 



Lakes. — There are 1 7 in the plain and mountain together, the largest 

 is the Wuler on whose banks I am now writing. I measured it yes- 

 terday. It no where exceeds 1 3 miles across. Tauk is the only island, 4 

 miles from Baramula, containing about 2 acres. It is said that a city 

 stood where the lake now is, and that the ruins visible beneath the 

 water were collected and formed into an island. There is a Hindu 

 ruin on it and a musjid built by Bud shah : it is said there are ruins all 

 around it. I struck my foot against a stone whilst swimming there at 



