146 Narrative of a Journey to Cho Lagan, fyc. [Aug. 



the upper part of the mountain is wonderfully contrasted with the 

 dark shadows which the height and steepness of the surrounding hills 

 throw upon the corner of the valley at its base. To avoid the possi- 

 bility of exaggerating, I reckon Momonangli to be as high as the 

 second-rate peaks of the Indian Himalaya, or 23,500 feet, of which 

 8000 rise above the level of the valley, and the uppermost 5000 is all 

 pure snow. 



I was about to take bearings of this and other points when the alarm 

 was given of a horseman ahead, which obliged me to pocket my com- 

 pass and assume as much as possible of the Chal of a Bhotia, 

 depriving me as I afterwards found of a most valuable observation for 

 my survey. The horseman who was coming up the valley from the 

 direction of Pruang, fortunately took no notice of us, but crossing our 

 path entered the hills in front and was soon out of sight ; we also saw 

 one or two Dung, i. e. encampments of herdsmen and shepherds, under 

 the hills on both sides of the valley, but at tolerably safe distance. 



My Bhotia companions were not a little alarmed at the horseman 

 and the Dung, and we edged off to the right in order to give them a 

 wide berth, and then ascended the hills on the north-east, throwing out 

 an advanced guard of two men to feel the way. This precaution proved 

 useful, for soon after on gaining the crest of the .hill and looking down 

 the other side our videttes found a valley full of Bung ; we then skirted 

 along the ridge eastward (or south- eastward) for a mile or two in hopes 

 of finding some place to cross safe from observation, but the Bung 

 appearing rather to thicken as we proceeded, we gave it up and 

 encamped under cover of the hill side, with the intention of effecting 

 our transit before daylight next morning. This valley proved to be 

 Chujia-Tol, a favourite resort of herdsmen and shepherds from Pruang ; 

 and all the best pasture grounds in this country are similarly situated 

 in low hollows sheltered between lofty hills. This Chujia-Tol is a 

 side ravine running from north-west to south-east, into the main valley ; 

 the springs of water that rise in it form but a meagre rivulet, which I 

 believe is absorbed again before it can reach the Karnali. 



In the afternoon some of our party went into the Tol and had a 

 conference with the shepherds, who were after all not over-dangerous 

 enemies, for they evinced no curiosity at all regarding their visitors from 

 the encampment of Byansis on the other side of the hill ; they reported 



