262 Nates of an Excursion to the Pindree Glacier. [March, 



and, recovering its former bulk and weight, descends, to restore the 

 equilibrium by forcing the aerial invader back to the plains, the process 

 being no doubt greatly aided, or rather caused, by gravitation as well 

 as by the expansion and consequent diminution and negation of pres- 

 sure which the plain atmosphere has itself experienced from the intense 

 heat of the earth and sun's rays by day, the former of which is dispersed 

 into the air during the whole night, and till about sunrise, when the gale 

 from the mountains attains its maximum of intensity. 



Both "up and down trains" must be much modified and complicated 

 by the direction of the mountain ranges and great vallies ; these last 

 determine of course their usual route, and by their narrowness and 

 depth tend greatly to augment the force of the wind. At Bheemtal, 

 1 2 miles from the plains, its effect is but too sensible ; but at Ram- 

 gurh, as much farther in, it is unknown ; the Ghagur serving as a most 

 efficient screen in this direction. The entire career is run out in about 

 100 miles; this distance is so short, and the anomalies from the ir- 

 regularity of the ridges so great, that the effect of the earth's rotation 

 may be unappreciable ; if not, the day breeze coming from the south, 

 where the velocity of rotation is greater, ought. to blow from the south- 

 west and the night one from north-east : and this is certainly true at 

 Almorah of the first.* 



* The climate of Ludakh, 11,000 feet above the sea, as observed by Moorcroft, 

 fully bears out the above theory. Frost and snow continue from the beginning of 

 September till tint of May. " In May, the days become warm, although early in 

 the morning the rivulets not. unfrequently present a coat of ice, and this may be 

 observed in some spots even in June, whilst on the loftiest mountains, snow falls 

 occasionally hi every month of the year. During the summer months, the sun 

 shines with great power, and, for a short part of the day, his rays are intensely hot. 

 At Le, on the 4th July, the Thermometer in the sun rose at noon to 134°, :md on 

 the march to Piti, it stood tea degrees higher. At night the temperature was 74 

 degrees. Even in the depth of winter, the heat of the sun is very considerable for 

 an hour or two, and the variation of temperature is consequently extreme. On the 

 30th of January, the t'.iennome er shewed a temperature of 83° at noon, when it 

 was only 12^-° at night The great heat of the sun in summer compensates for the 

 short duruiio.i of the season, and brings the grain to rapid maturity. Barley that 

 was sown in the neighbourhood of Le on the 10th of May, was cut on the 12th of 

 September ; and at Pituk, live miles from Le and about 800 feet lower, in a shel- 

 tered angle of the valley, the same grain is ready for the sickle in two months from 

 the time of sowing. (Travels, I. 268 ) Much further eastward, Captain Weller 



