306 On the Snow-line in the Himalaya, [April 5 



scarcely ever above a foot in depth, and at 12,000 it is very rarely two 

 feet, although nearer the outer range four or five feet are usual at heights 

 of 7000 or 8000 feet. In these last places there is rain in July, August 

 and September, but it is not near so heavy in the lower hills. When 

 Hindustan is deluged for three months, the 'upper parts of Kunawar 

 are refreshed by partial showers ; and with the exception of the valley 

 of the Buspa, the periodical rains do not extend further to the eastward 

 than Long. 77°."* (Account of Kunawar, p. 61). He again says 

 relative to the most northern parts of Kunawar and the neighbouring 

 portion of Tibet, " With the exception of March and April, in which 

 months there are a few showers, the uniform reports of the inhabitant 8 

 represent the rest of the year to be almost perpetual sunshine, the few 

 clouds hang about the highest mountains and a heavy fall of snow or 

 rain is almost unknown." (Ibid, p. 95.). 



The testimony of Capt. J. Cunningham, who passed a winter in 

 the most northern part of Kunawar, as to the small quantity of snow 

 that falls, is particularly valuable. He says, " In this country a south- 

 erly wind and the sun together keep slopes with a southern exposure 

 and 12 and 13,000 feet high, quite clear of snow, (except when it is 

 actually snowing,) and this too towards the end of January and begin- 

 ning of February, or I may say at all times." Also "here I am {April 

 6th, 1842) about 9000 or 9500 feet high, wind generally southerly, 

 no snow whatever on southern slopes within 15 or 16,000 feet, apri- 

 cot trees budding, but on northern slopes and in hollows abundance of 

 snow."f (WGlellanaVs Calcutta Journal of Nat. History, No. 14, pp. 

 281, 282). 



* That the fall of snow at 7000 feet is ever 5 feet in any part of these hills 

 may I think be doubted. The Buspa is the river that runs immediately at the foot 

 of the north declivity of the Bissehir range ; and I suppose that Capt. Gerard 

 means, that the rains do not extend up the Sutlej beyond the point where the Buspa 

 falls into it. 



f These paragraphs are taken from extracts of letters of Capt. Cunningham, 

 given by Capt. Hutton in support of his arguments as to snow lying lower on North 

 than on South exposures, which accounts for the last sentence. But whatever the 

 quantity of snow may have been on the north slopes, compare the heights here 

 given as being clear of snow early in April, viz. 15,000 feet, with what I have above 

 shown to be the limit to the South of the great peaks as late as the middle of May 

 viz. 12,500 feet. 



