1849.] On the Snow-line in the Himalaya. 299 



was found equally free from snow on its southern face and sum- 

 mit, which latter is particularly open and level. The mountains on 

 either side were also free from snow to some height, but on the North, 

 as on U'nta-dhura, a large bed lay a little way down the slope, and 

 extended to about 500 feet from the top. On this pass a Boragineous 

 plant in flower was found above 17,000 feet ; a species of Urtica was also 

 got about the same altitude, and we afterwards saw it again nearly as 

 high up on the Lakhur pass. 



From the Kyungar-ghat, a considerable portion of the southern face 

 of the Balch range, distant about 10 miles, was distinctly seen apparent- 

 ly quite free from snow. In our ascent to the Balch pass no snow was 

 observed on any of the southern spurs of the range, and only one or 

 two very small patches could be seen from the summit on the north 

 side. The average height of the top of this range can hardly be more 

 than 500 feet greater than that of the pass, and as a whole it certainly 

 does not enter the region of perpetual snow. As viewed from the 

 plains of Hundes it cannot be said to appear snowy, a few only of the 

 peaks being tipped. 



We returned to Milam via Chirchun. The whole of the ascent to the 

 Lakhur pass was perfectly free from snow to the very top, i. e. 18,300 

 feet, and many of the neighbouring mountains were bare still higher. 

 The next ridge on this route is Jainti-dhiira, which is passed at an ele- 

 vation of 18,500 feet, but still without crossing the least portion of snow. 

 The line of perpetual snow is however evidently near ; for though the 

 Jainti ridge was quite free, and some of the peaks near us were clear 

 probably to upwards of 19,000 feet, yet in more sheltered situations 

 unbroken snow could be seen considerably below us, and on the whole 

 I think that 18,500 feet must be nearly the average height of the snow- 

 line at this place. 



M. Humboldt's list of heights for the Northern slope is as follows : 



Toises. English feet. 



Webb, 2600, or 16,600 



Moorcroft, 2900 — 18,500 



A. Gerard, 3200 — 20,500 



Jacquemont, 3078 — 19,700 



Webb. The height given on the authority of Capt. Webb is simply 

 that of the Niti pass, which Capt. Webb crossed without snow in 



