958 Remarks on the Snow line in the Himalaya. [Sept. 



assumption arising solely from his total want of knowledge of the 

 localities in which my observations were made. 



In quoting from Captain Cunningham's letters to me, Lieut. Strachey 

 is careful to extract only so much as may tend to corroborate his own 

 views ; but in theorising on the probable causes which tend to accumu- 

 late a greater quantity of snow on the southern than on the northern 

 aspect, and which he thinks he finds in the sudden congelation of mois- 

 ture-bearing winds from the south, he is pleased altogether to dis- 

 regard Captain Cunningham's observation that it is the violence of this 

 same southerly wind which actually keeps the southern slopes of Tar- 

 tary free from snow, and that too at all times. 



Contrary to all Lieut. Strachey' s views and theories, we find Capt. 

 Cunningham writing from Tartar districts that, — " in January and 

 February, and indeed at all times, the violent southerly winds kept 

 southern exposures free from snow ;" — again he says, "no snow what- 

 ever on southern slopes within 15 to 16,000 feet ; but on northern slopes 

 and in hollows, abundance of snow." Again — "February 10th and 

 11th. — In getting up the northern slopes, the snow was, I don't know 

 how deep ! On reaching the summit of a pass I found no snow, nor did 

 I find any on the southern slopes, except in hollow portions or tolerably 

 flat bits. — The highest pass on the road is perhaps 13,500, or nearly 

 14,000 feet." — [This too, be it remembered, in notoriously the severest 

 month of winter, in these hills!] "The effect," he continues, "is 

 attributable partly to the violent southerly winds which blow during 

 December, January and February, and partly to the sun's rays. In 

 the beginning of May, in coming from Nako to Chungo in Hungrung, 

 I found no snow on the southern, eastern or western slopes ; but on 

 some northern ones which were steep, there was snow three and four 

 feet thick; elevation about 11,500 feet. At Shalkur up to the middle 

 of June, the snow lay on the northern sides of the gullies or ravines of 

 the hills ; and when out shooting I had much difficulty in crossing 

 them ; elevation 11,000 to 11,500 feet. — 1 was informed also that the 

 northern slopes of the Hungrung ghat, between Soongnum and Hungo, 

 had some snow until the middle of June. On the southern face it had 

 melted six weeks before, except in hollow places." And finally, 

 "August 7th. — There is no snow on western slopes of hills 17,000 

 feet high, but there are a few patches on the northern slopes." 



