1857.] Beport on the Progress of the Magnetic Survey. 115 



met amongst many others a caravan with fourteen camels (the 

 Camel us Bactrianus) with two humps, frequently used for carrying 

 loads on the Tarkand road; these stout animals constantly cross 

 the elevated crests on the Tarkand road up to 18,000 feet, and 

 seem apparently little affected by the cold of these heights, the 

 native climate of wild Yaks and Kiangs. 



We succeeded in procuring two of them, remarkably tame animals, 

 expecting to find them particularly useful in crossing the frequent 

 rapids met with in the Shayok river. But notwithstanding the 

 height and power of these animals, we found it impossible to go 

 down the Shayok Valley. The river had much subsided, compared 

 with its height when we crossed it near Kardong, in the beginning 

 of August ; but it was still far from passable, (which it is from the 

 end of October to the end of March). "We were obliged therefore 

 to leave the road down the Shayok Valley at Sultan Chiiskul, to go 

 up the Valley to Sassar, and follow from thence our old route. "We 

 had to cross in one day, not without difficulty, the Shayok river five 

 times before we reached Sassar. 



During our absence from Leh, our Native Doctor Hurkishen had 

 made meteorological observations, and what was especially valuable 

 to us, detailed Barometric and Magnetic observations. He had com- 

 pleted a plan of Leh, the chief points of which had been laid down 

 before our departure, and collectors had been sent to different 

 parts of Ladak to complete Geological and Botanical collections, 

 particularly with reference to geographical distribution : we found 

 all our orders had been very carefully executed. 



Our horses and luggage left behind at Suget, not arriving for 

 thirteen days after us, (September 25th,) we had time, besides finish- 

 ing our plans and drawings, to take numerous casts in plaster of 

 Paris* of the different tribes, as we had already done in other parts 

 of India and the Himalayas. The variety of tribes which is to be 

 found in Leh is particularly great, on account of its extended trade 

 with the different parts of Central Asia. 



* We are obliged to E. H. Longden, Esq., Superintendent of the Secxmdra 

 Press at Agra, for a very valuable supply of plaster of Paris, when our own stock 

 was nearly exhausted. 



2 Q 



