220 Journal of a trip through Kulu and Ldhul, fyc. [March, 



the Para and Cherpa rivers to the Lahul boundary at the Phalang- 

 danda : for the route by the Serchu is only an offshoot of that by the 

 Cherpa. Were this route to be opened by the British Government, 

 and a few Dhurmsalas, or travellers' houses, built at convenient dis- 

 tances, our traders in shawl wool from Noorpoor and Rampoor would 

 be saved the heavy duties which are now levied by Maharaja Gulab 

 Singh. One of these Dhurmsalas would cost about 200 Rupees : and 

 eight or ten of them would be sufficient along the whole line of unin- 

 habited country from Darcha to Hanli. The most eligible positions, 

 combining easy distances with the indispensable requisites of fuel, 

 grass, and water, are shown in the map,* and the proposed Dhurmsalas 

 are numbered from Darcha eastwards and marked D. Our traders 

 would thus be able to obtain their shawl wool direct from the Chinese 

 districts of Rodok and Gardok, by a route through our own territory. 



From the information which we received, and from the view of the 

 country which Mr. Agnew obtained from the Lanka peak, the Cherpa 

 is formed of two large branches, of which the general bearings were 

 taken by Mr. Agnew. The northern branch leads up to one of the 

 sources of the Para, and the southern branch leads directly upon the 

 head of the Losar river, a fact which did not escape the researches of 

 the accurate Moorcroft, who remarks, (I. p. 265,) "Beyond theLadak 

 boundary, it (the Losar) is said to meet with the Tsurip (Cherep or 

 Cherpa) from the north." 



Almost due east from the junction of the Cherpa and Yunam rivers, 

 there is on the top of the hill, a remarkable square rock, which has so 

 much resemblance to a Fort that it had received the name of Lanka 

 from the shepherds and traders who frequent these parts. It is a 

 well known point, and it can be seen from the Langa-Lach Pass, as 

 well as from the neighbourhood of the Yunam lake. Mr. Agnew succeed- 

 ed in scaling this height with some difficulty, at 4 p. m. he found the 

 thermometer at 44° and the boiling point 181°, which after correction 

 gives a height of 17,513 feet above the sea, or 3,300 feet above the 

 alluvial flat at the junction of the Cherpa and Yunam rivers. The 

 thermometer fell to 18° during the night. 



Tuesday, Sth September. To Gadera 6|- miles, crossed the Cherpa 

 at 10^ a.m. the river rising fast from the melting of the snow. The 



* This map will accompany another article by Capt. C. in our next number.—EDS. 



