1848.] deputed to the Tibetan Frontier. 95 



I had intended to have done when I last reported to you in my letter 

 No. 6, dated Molbil, 20th October, 1847. 



2. On the 23rd and 24th of October the snow (which had been 

 falling on the heights for some days) began to fall in the valley of the 

 Dras river, and when I reached Dras on the 25th ultimo I found that 

 the passes to Gares and Iskardoh were completely closed. As the 

 weather was still very threatening, I determined to proceed at once to 

 Kashmir. I therefore marched the next day to Maten, through a heavy 

 snow storm. The snow continued to fall the whole night, and the next 

 day I made a march of 16 miles over the Seoji-la into Kashmir through 

 snow and hail. On the three following days I continued to march 

 down the valley of the Sind river through snow and mud : the snow 

 having fallen down to a level of 6,000 feet for six consecutive days. 

 On my arrival in Kashmir I found that all the passes, excepting three, 

 were closed for the season, unless some continued fine weather should 

 follow. 



3. The three passes which remained open were : 1st, the Banahal 

 Pass, by which the Lahore Dak travels ; 2nd, the Baramula Pass, by 

 which the Jehlum leaves Kashmir ; and 3rd, the Seoji-la, or Dras Pass, 

 by which I had entered the valley. The Gares Pass was completely 

 closed : in consequence of which Mr. Agnew, Lieutenant Young and 

 Mr. Winterbottom, who were returning from Gilgit, have been obliged 

 to go round by Iskardoh and the Dras Pass. Even the Pir Panjal 

 Pass, which usually remains open throughout November, has been 

 closed since the 25th of October. 



4. Under these circumstances, as the only available route to the 

 Dardu country was via the Baramula Pass, which continues open 

 throughout the year, it appeared to me that the best plan which I 

 could follow for the prosecution of the various objects of the Mission, 

 would be to pay a short visit to the principal architectural antiquities 

 of Kashmir, with the view of measuring them and of describing them 

 in detail. For this purpose I left the city of Kashmir on the 8th in- 

 stant, and I am now on my way back, having visited the various ruins 

 at Pandretan, Avantissur, Bij-Bihara, Marttand, and the caves of Bho- 

 ma-jo ; of all of which I have made plans and elevations by measure- 

 ment, which will hereafter be submitted to Government. At present, 

 I need only record my opinion that the style of architecture, exhibited 



